Does Pence’s Pro-Life Record Change Perceptions of Trump?

For many of us, the national election continues to be problematic. While reservations concerning Trump remain, Hillary will be the demise of any hope we have for maintaining a semblance of ethical integrity. The recent changes in Trump are striking, not in the words he speaks, but in the allies he has cultivated.

Fr. Richard Heilman thinks prayer can facilitate a conversion in Trump. I find a modicum of encouragement in this idea as I finish the 53nd day of the 54 day Rosary Novena for Our Nation. After watching the vice-presidential debate, one thing is certain – Trump’s running mate, Mike Pence, is amazing. Not only does his record prove it, but the manner in which he conducts himself is truly inspirational – even under the duress of interruptions by both Tim Kaine and the debate moderator.

Often times, the people with whom we associate are good indicators of who we are. Case in point, the running mates chosen by the two presidential candidates give clear insight into their political aspirations and moral propensities. Although Donald Trump raises concerns from a principled perspective, he has surrounded himself with a running mate (Mike Pence) who is a clear pro-life advocate, as well as many pro-life advisors. On the other hand, Hillary Clinton’s rabid advocacy for abortion, including partial birth abortion, is cemented with her choice of Tim Kaine.

Contrary to a Washington Post report that “Debate moderators suggest Mike Pence and Tim Kaine are basically the same person, there are vast differences between the vice-presidential candidates which give telling insights into the presidential candidates who chose them.

Self-Identified “Devout” Catholic Tim Kaine

1. Strongly Supports Abortion on Demand

Kaine is a “strong supporter of Roe v. Wade,” according to a July interview on CNN.  He went on to say that, “We don’t need to make people’s reproductive decisions for them.”

Although Kaine says he is “personally against abortion,” his glowing record from Planned Parenthood and the National Abortion Rights Action League (NARAL) is a perfect 100 percent score.

Conversely, his score with the National Right to Life Committee is a perfect “zero” for his unyielding pro-abortion record.

2. Touts Sex Education Including Contraception but Not Abstinence

Kaine’s list of abortion friendly positions gives a clear picture of a man who does not publicly practice what his purported Church teaches. As governor of Virginia, Kaine cut off state funding for abstinence-only sex education programs. Flying in the face of ethically instructing school children, he insisted that contraceptives – some of which are abortifacients – must be taught in schools.

3. Anti-marriage Agenda

In 2003 Governor Kaine also fought a state constitutional amendment, affirming marriage as between one man and one woman, and voiced his support of homosexual “marriage. He has admitted that he is “at odds with the current doctrine of the Church” in reference to Church teaching on homosexuality and same-sex “marriage”. Kaine also predicts that the Catholic Church’s doctrine will change.

Sen. Kaine championed adoption for non-married couples saying, “There should be a license that would entitle a committed couple to the same rights as a married couple.”

4. Supporter of Obamacare

Kaine advocates for ObamaCare, stating, “I was a supporter and remain a supporter of the Affordable Care Act.” With the harm to Religious Freedom triggered by the HHS Mandate, this is hardly an ethical stance.

Mike Pence

Like their counterparts, Tim Kaine and Mike Pence couldn’t be more at odds on abortion, marriage, homosexuality, sex education, and religious freedom.

1. Pence on Abortion, Adoption, and Respect for Embryos

Gov. Pence remains a steadfast champion of prolife legislation, making it illegal to abort a baby on the basis of sex, race, or disability – including Down syndrome. In advocacy for the safety of women, he has fought for better health and safety standards for abortion facilities. His pro-life record includes support for informed consent laws and laws providing color photos of developing babies to their mothers. Pence also supported increased penalties for abortion facilities that fail to properly report their business record.

His respect for the unborn was also evident when he championed laws requiring the respectful burial or cremation of aborted babies. Pence also worked to stop Planned Parenthood’s (PP) practice of treating pre-born victims of abortion as medical waste, or using their tissue for experimentation. Gov. Pence advocates the complete defunding of (PP) of tax dollars by preventing any business which does abortions from receiving Title X funds. He led the effort to defund the nation’s largest abortion business (PP) while in Congress.

By providing $1,000 adoption credits for parents in his home state of Indiana, Pence also advocated for adoption – a point he brought up in the vice-presidential debate. Mothers who choose to raise their babies have also benefited. According to Indiana Right to Life, “Gov. Pence’s Real Alternatives program at pregnancy resource centers offers life-affirming and compassionate care to women through pregnancy and as they begin parenting. In a one-year pilot program in Northern Indiana, Real Alternatives served more than 8,000 clients.” The tangible results of Pence’s pro-life leadership were shown by the closing of four Indiana abortion facilities as well as a decline in Indiana’s abortion rate.

In his vast efforts on behalf of life, Pence also encouraged umbilical cord donation as the alternative to embryonic stem cell experimentation, which leads to the destruction of the unborn. He sponsored legislation preventing forced collusion in abortion by citizen funding for abortion coverage.

Arguably his most significant contribution to the pro-life cause was the “Life at Conception Act,” which “declares that the right to life guaranteed by the Constitution is vested in each human being,” including the “preborn human person.” Pence was a co-sponsor of this act, which sought to empower Congress to make laws banning abortion nationwide.

2. Pence is Pro-Marriage and Pro-Family

In 2000, Pence stated, “Congress should oppose any effort to recognize homosexuals as a ‘discrete and insular minority’ entitled to the protection of anti-discrimination laws similar to those extended to women and ethnic minorities.” Opposed to using federal funds for “organizations that celebrate and encourage the types of behaviors that facilitate the spreading of the HIV virus”, Pence supported funding reparative therapy instead.

Pence also opposed hate crimes legislation promoted by President Obama, concerned that it would “advance a radical social agenda,” and that religious leaders “could be charged or be subject to intimidation for simply expressing a Biblical worldview on the issue of homosexual behavior.” In his opposition to the repeal of President Bill Clinton’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, Pence voiced his concern. He argued that “the presence of homosexuals in the ranks weakens unit cohesion”

Always a champion of the American family then congressman Pence stated that “Societal collapse was always brought about following an advent of the deterioration of marriage and family.”

3. Abstinence Sex Education

Citing that “condoms are a very, very poor protection against sexually transmitted diseases”, Pence advocated for abstinence education.  He justly reasoned that condom focused sex education “may be inadvertently misleading millions of young people and endangering lives”.

4. Pence Champions Religious Freedom

Criticizing the Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare) and its forced abortion coverage (HHS Mandate), Pence voted against this legislation. He signed Indiana’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act, allowing Christians and other people of faith and morals to recuse themselves from involvement in or enabling of acts which are contrary to their faith.  Unfortunately, a national backlash from gay activist pressure, forced Pence to water the legislation down.

Clinton/Kaine vs. Trump/Pence – A Stark Contrast

The contrast between these vice-presidential candidates is stark – as is the contrast between their running mates. Numerous Right to Life organizations, both state and national, have endorsed the Trump/Pence ticket – including Kentucky and Indiana – while every major pro-abortion and anti-family advocacy group, as well as organizations flaunting the homosexual lifestyle, heartily endorse Clinton/Kaine.

As Indiana Right to Life observed, “Gov. Pence brings his pro-life credentials to the Trump presidential ticket. In contrast, Hillary Clinton has sought to expand abortion access and fund the life-ending procedure with our tax dollars. She has a cozy relationship with the abortion industry and cannot be trusted to protect life.” She is also a tremendous threat to Religious Freedom.

On the other hand, while he has no demonstrable record, Donald Trump has aligned himself with countless pro-life advocates and promises to move our country in a pro-life direction.  He also strongly advocates for Religious Freedom. Hillary Clinton is a well known entity when it comes to abortion, homosexual activism, sex education, and Religious Freedom – there can be no question. Donald Trump, while an unknown, demonstrates promise that the pro-life plank of the Republican party will be favorably enacted.