Will Gov. Mike Pence’s Pro-Life Credentials Overcome His Religious-Freedom Backtrack?

Governor Mike Pence of Indiana disappointed conservative Christians when he backtracked on the legislature’s attempt to protect the religion freedom of those who oppose the redefining of marriage.

He signed the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) into law in 2015, which would have allowed individuals and businesses to cite religious beliefs as a defense to “discrimination” lawsuits.

After a liberal backlash, the governor revised the bill with new language barring businesses from discriminating against people based on “sexual orientation” and “gender identity.”

So the state’s RFRA doesn’t actually protect a business owner who doesn’t want to bake a cake for a homosexual “wedding,” since the refusal is based on “sexual orientation”?

CURE’s Star Parker wrote in 2015 that while even the “libertarian Cato Institute, which supports same-sex marriage, supported the Indiana Religious Freedom Restoration Act in its original version,” Gov. Pence “caved to economic blackmail from businesses and other entities generating revenue for his state….Not surprisingly, speculation is underway about how this will impact Pence’s political future. His concession on the Indiana RFRA will likely hurt him as a potential Republican presidential contender.”

GOP presidential contender Donald Trump selected him as his vice-presidential running mate; it remains to be seen what Christian GOP voters think.

Gov. Pence scores strong pro-life points.

“Gov. Pence is devoted to protecting the unborn and their mothers,” Indiana Right to Life President Mike Fichter wrote to Life News via e-mail. “Gov. Pence’s pro-life stance is more than a talking point; Gov. Pence has put his pro-life position into action time and time again. Indiana is a better state for the unborn and their mothers because of the Governor’s pro-life leadership.”

“Under Gov. Pence, there are four fewer abortion facilities. The state abortion rate has been steadily declining every year. The state is enforcing health regulations that protect women’s health, and abortion doctors know they don’t have a free pass.”

Photo credit: Gage Skidmore (Creative Commons) – Some rights reserved