Introduction
The debate over abortion in America is often framed as a moral or religious issue—but its roots are deeply political. Despite what today’s anti-abortion movement would have us believe, there was no widespread religious opposition to abortion before Roe v. Wade in 1973. In fact, many conservative Christian groups, including the Southern Baptist Convention, once supported abortion rights in certain cases. It wasn’t until the mid-1970s that the Republican Party, seeking to court the evangelical vote, transformed abortion into a polarizing political weapon. Since then, the so-called “pro-life” movement has revealed its hypocrisy—fighting for the unborn while consistently voting against policies that protect and support children and families after birth. This blog explores the real history behind the anti-abortion movement and exposes the manipulation of faith for political gain.
A Political Origin Story
In 1973, the United States Supreme Court ruled in Roe v. Wade that the right to an abortion was protected under the Constitution. That landmark decision triggered outrage from some corners of the public—but contrary to popular belief, it did not immediately become a religious lightning rod. At the time, there was no unified religious opposition to abortion, especially not among evangelicals.
In fact, W. A. Criswell, a towering figure in Southern Baptist life and former president of the Southern Baptist Convention, openly supported the decision. He remarked, “I have always felt that it was only after a child was born and had a life separate from its mother that it became an individual person.” That view was not uncommon. In both 1971 and 1974, the Southern Baptist Convention passed resolutions affirming the legality of abortion in cases of rape, incest, fetal deformity, or risks to the mother’s health.
Ironically, it was the Democratic Party—pressured by its large Catholic base—that was more aligned with anti-abortion sentiment at the time.
Enter the Republican Party
Things began to shift in 1976. The Republican Party, recognizing the growing influence of politically unengaged evangelicals, added anti-abortion language to its party platform. This wasn’t driven by theology—it was strategy. Party operatives saw abortion as a potent wedge issue to galvanize support among Southern white evangelicals, who were also reacting to desegregation, the feminist movement, and other cultural changes.
Over the following decades, Republican politicians and evangelical leaders worked hand-in-hand to rebrand abortion as not just a sin, but a litmus test of moral and political loyalty. This alliance gave birth to the so-called “Moral Majority” and transformed abortion from a private, complex issue into a central battleground of America’s culture wars.
The “Pro-Life” Contradiction
Despite the name, the modern pro-life movement consistently demonstrates that it is not truly pro-life—only pro-birth. Once a child is born, that concern often disappears. The same politicians who rail against abortion also vote to cut funding for programs that directly support life and health:
- Planned Parenthood, which offers reproductive health services, contraception, and cancer screenings.
- WIC (Women, Infants, and Children), which helps low-income mothers access nutrition.
- Head Start and Pre-K programs, which provide early education to children from poor families.
- Free school meals, which address child hunger.
- Affordable healthcare, including for pregnant women and young children.
They oppose comprehensive sex education and resist access to affordable contraception—both proven to reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies and abortions. These are not the actions of a movement committed to life; they are the actions of a movement committed to controlling women.
Misusing Scripture for Power
One of the most disingenuous aspects of the anti-abortion crusade is its misuse of the Bible to justify policy. There is no explicit anti-abortion teaching in the Bible—none. In fact, Numbers 5:11–31 describes a ritual wherein a woman suspected of infidelity is given a potion by a priest that induces a miscarriage if she is guilty. This is arguably the earliest recorded example of state-sanctioned abortion—and it’s in the Bible.
Jewish tradition, which predates Christianity, does not treat a fetus as a full person. In many interpretations of Jewish law, the life and health of the mother take precedence over that of the unborn. Early Christian thought reflected this complexity as well; it was only centuries later, through evolving church doctrine, that abortion became framed as a moral sin.
The religious right’s argument that life begins at conception is a modern political invention—not a divine truth.
A Movement Built on Control, Not Compassion
At its core, the anti-abortion movement has never been about protecting life—it has been about power. Power over women’s bodies. Power over the poor. Power over the narrative of morality. It has weaponized deeply personal medical decisions and turned them into political currency.
It is no coincidence that the people most affected by abortion restrictions are those with the least means—low-income women, women of color, and young women. Meanwhile, those with wealth and connections will always find access to safe abortion care, even in secret.
The movement’s continued effort to ban abortion outright is not about life. It is about control. And the use of religion to justify that control is not just hypocritical—it is morally bankrupt.
Conclusion
If the anti-abortion movement truly valued life, it would fight just as hard for the lives of the born as it does for the unborn. It would support mothers, fund education, provide healthcare, and protect children from poverty and abuse. Instead, it has revealed itself time and again as a cynical political tool, not a moral crusade.
Understanding this history is essential. Because if we allow myths to replace facts and politics to replace conscience, we don’t just lose reproductive freedom—we lose the very idea of moral integrity.
The Family: The Secret Fundamentalism at the Heart of American Power by Jeff Sharlet – https://civilheresy.com/The family
if you are interested in this topic, i highly recommend the following:
Pro: Reclaiming Abortion Rights by Katha Pollitt – https://civilheresy.com/Reclaiming
Suggested reading from our Reddit friends on r/CriticalTheory:
Atrocity Inc by Anne Applebaum – https://civilheresy.com/Atrocity
The Creation of Patriarchy by Gerda Lerner- https://civilheresy.com/Patriarchy
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