Yes, take seriously who you vote for because Christian Nationalism and the religious right have infiltrated our politics to force their beliefs, and their teachings into law. The Catholic doctrines have influenced lawmakers as they strip away at women’s rights, contraception, work place protections and access to health care. They are not conservative, they are radical.

Thomas Jefferson believed broad freedom and tolerance was essential in a republic with people of different religions, ethnicities and races. The Constitution has created “a wall of separation between church and state.” It is part of our Democracy as a core achievement for a pluralistic society.

There it is, clear as day, but try and tell that to those who want to turn our democracy into a theocracy. The constitution is not a sub category of the holy texts and we don’t need lectures from the elite religious leaders who think they have the moral high ground. Over the years the skeletons in their closet have been pulled out for all to see.

According to researcher Katherine Stewart they are even hostile to public education. “Conservatives would want to preserve institutions of value, would want integrity of election policies, integrity of the judiciary, tolerance and mutual respect that sustains a pluralistic society.” They claim to defend the family, but treat females with contempt. They have re-framed the Christian religion to suit their political objectives.

Per the Guttmacher Institute, 95% of those who identify as Catholic used birth control, 68% did not want Roe overturned, and Catholics get abortions at the same rate as other Americans.

No one is forcing an Evangelical or Catholic to have an abortion but they want to force those who do not hold their beliefs to follow their rules. The pro life already have the right NOT to have an abortion, its about pushing their religious view points upon every one else.

It’s less about abortion and more about controlling women’s freedom.

Where is all the religious talk about male sexuality. Let's hear it.

Debra Becker

Effort

Editor's note: The author does not not have a Facebook profile and cannot comment so we allowed this addendum to her letter: "Thomas Jefferson was the principle author of the Declaration of the Independence. The U.S. Constitution and Declaration of Independence are separate documents. According to historical documents in 1802 Thomas Jefferson wrote in a letter to the Danbury Baptist Association, in it he declared that when the American people adopted the establishment clause they built a "wall of separation" between church and state." Thank you Times News for allowing me the addendum. Debra Becker