There are certain aspects of the Christian faith that are difficult to understand, elements of our theology that will have to remain a mystery this side of heaven, but then there are others — like the sanctity of human life — that seem plainer, yet the debate still rages on in the political sphere.
Mayor Pete Buttigieg is one Democratic candidate who hasn’t shied away from invoking his faith to defend his pro-choice position, despite the theological contradictions.
The 2020 presidential hopeful has argued that government needs to legislate morally. However, when asked about abortion, he has said its morality is “unknowable,” and argued last week the Bible supports the understanding that human life doesn’t begin until the first post-womb breath.
Scripture makes clear that God created us and knew us even before we entered the womb. As a self-proclaimed Christian, Buttigieg should know that life starts long before birth.
Jeremiah 1:5 declares, “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born, I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.”
Now, Buttigieg’s unique theology on abortion is being put to the test with the recent gruesome news coming out of his home state of Indiana.
It was discovered over the weekend in South Bend, Indiana, where Buttigieg serves as mayor, that the state’s most prolific abortionist, who died earlier this month, preserved the remains of more than 2,200 aborted babies.
After staying quiet for days following the news, Buttigieg is finally speaking. Predictably, he’s trying to toe the line, walking a tightrope between condemning the late doctor Ulrich Klopfer’s behavior while his past statements have declared the morality of this doctor’s decades of abortions to be “unknowable.”
Buttigieg appears to be attempting to cut faith and morality off at its knees. While admitting the abortionist’s behavior is “extremely disturbing,” he has also said he doesn’t want the reality of Klopfer’s grotesque actions to become political—a position that lies in stark contradiction to his record. When a mad man takes lives with a gun, for example, Buttigieg believes politics have a role. However, when a mad man takes thousands of lives with his medical license, politics should steer clear.
The hope of every Christian in America, regardless of political affiliation, should be for the nation’s policies to be rooted in the fundamental truth that all life is worthy of protection and care. If Buttigieg wants to use his Christian faith in his political campaign, that would be a great place to start.