We’ve been enthusiastic supporters of Trump-Vance.
We’ve argued that the threat of Kamala Harris – the most vile and aggressive enemy of everything we hold sacred – poses an existential threat to life, our Church, and more. We have also argued that Trump’s pro-life record and sanity on gender, the border, education, and more make him the obvious choice for Catholic voters.
But we’ve also said repeatedly that we are Catholics first.
I’ve spent the last 24 hours talking to senior Trump advisers about his problematic comments yesterday on Florida’s Amendment 4 and an “IVF mandate.”
I didn’t mince words.
They are hearing from the pro-life movement.
And, unlike Kamala Harris, they are listening.
As I explained earlier this week, prudentially tolerating problematic existing laws is one thing.
It’s entirely different to actively call for a change in law that would expand federal policy that involves an intrinsic evil, particularly those involving the destruction of innocent human lives.
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Yesterday, Trump hesitated on whether he would oppose Florida’s radical abortion Amendment 4. Thankfully late this afternoon he announced he would vote against the proposed law. Also yesterday, he promised to mandate IVF in insurance plans.
Gutting existing state laws that protect women and children, and forcing Americans to pay for IVF, which involves the destruction of countless living human embryos, is unacceptable.
Trump is simply wrong that IVF is the answer. While he shares the goal of helping America bring more children into the world, he misunderstands how we should get there.
But Trump is also right that America needs more children.
Yesterday Trump also announced he will seek to make the costs of childbirth tax deductible.
Of course, Kamala Harris poses a far greater threat. She gets both the means – and the ends – wrong. No Catholic can support her. That much is obvious. But Catholics also cannot write a blank check to Trump. Sometimes pushing back is needed.
Today is such a day.
We understand the politics of abortion is exceptionally difficult. The losses in some states, the polling, and the one-sided media can be demoralizing. We’re realists. No federal ban is coming from the Congress or the Senate. We’re fighting now just to hang on in at least 10 states.
It may be hard to accept, but the culture of death has done enormous damage over the past 60 years. There is no quick fix coming. Roe is gone. Now the real work begins.
Lobbing criticism at the President who helped overturn Roe, cut taxpayer funding for abortion, and filled his administration with pro-life leaders may feel good. But we’re not interested in scoring points. We’re interested in moving the ball. And that means working pragmatically with candidates and policymakers to achieve real progress.
The fact remains, allowing Kamala Harris to win would be catastrophic.
I told the Trump campaign we should be talking about how to help as many women as possible keep their children. Running away from the life issue is not an option. We just need to be smarter about how we talk about it.
Trump’s proposal to make the costs of childbirth tax deductible is an excellent example. So is support for pregnancy resource centers, adoption alternatives, counseling, education, and broader public campaigns celebrating mothers, families, and the importance of children.
Rest assured, our team is fighting to ensure your voice is heard in this campaign.
Catholics are a key voting bloc.
We have to stick together and make our case.
I’m working to do just that.
We’re counting on Trump to get this right.
Brian
P.S. I know we say this a lot. And it can sometimes feel like a throwaway line. But if you take anything away from this message, please remember this weekend to say a prayer for Trump, his team and all those fighting for life – including us. It matters.
LifeNews Note: Brian Burch is the president of CatholicVote.
