Republicans and Evangelicals: Abortion

10 snips

Nov 4, 2025

In this insightful discussion, Daniel K. Williams, an associate professor of history and expert on American religion and politics, explores the evolution of abortion as a pivotal issue for evangelicals. He explains how abortion was traditionally viewed through a Catholic lens and highlights the significant shift that occurred in the 1970s, marked by New York's groundbreaking law. Williams also details how abortion became intertwined with Republican politics, transforming into a litmus test for evangelical voters and shaping broader cultural battles.

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ANECDOTE

Public Figure Flew Abroad For An Abortion

Sherry Chessen, a Romper Room star, flew to Sweden in 1962 to obtain an abortion after taking thalidomide.
Her publicized trip cost her job and brought national attention to abortion access and birth defects concerns.

INSIGHT

Mid‑1960s Sought Exceptions, Not Elective Access

In the mid-1960s most Americans opposed elective abortion but supported expanding exceptions for rape, incest, and maternal health.
The liberalization movement aimed to widen exceptions rather than legalize unrestricted abortion nationwide.

INSIGHT

Catholics Held A Stricter Historical Stance

Protestants were generally more open to modest legal expansion on abortion than Catholics in the 1960s.
Catholics maintained a stricter doctrinal prohibition rooted in papal teaching dating to 1869.

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A lot of evangelicals are now single-issue voters, and that issue is abortion. But that was not always the case. In fact, for a great deal of American history, abortion was largely seen as a Catholic issue. There are, of course, exceptions. But most evangelicals and Protestants were divided on the subject, even favoring abortion when it came to preserving the health of the mother, or in cases of rape and incest.

On this episode, Chris interviews historian and author Daniel K. Williams about the history of the abortion debate in the United States. A major turning point was the availability of elective or "on-demand" abortions in places like New York. As evangelicals grew more upset with the moral decline of the country, they lumped abortion together with gay and lesbian rights fights, the proliferation of pornography, and decided that it needed to stop. Plus, big money through New Right PACs entered the field, and politicians were soon chosen on their allegiance to pro-life legislation.

Sources:

Defenders of the Unborn: The Pro-Life Movement before Roe v. Wade by Daniel K Williams
Reaganland by Rick Perlstein
The Evangelicals by Frances Fitzgerald
Romper Room on YouTube
CBS Sunday Morning excellent story on Sherri Chessen
Article on thalidomide
Oyez.org for the Supreme Court cases
Church History in Plain Language by Bruce Shelley
American Experience article on Comstock Laws
New York Times video on the Population Bomb (good stuff!)
The US Constitution
Frances Shaeffer and the Shaping of Evangelical America by Barry Hankins

Discussion Questions:

Why was abortion considered a Catholic issue in the mid-1900s?
How did the Griswold case impact the Roe case?
How did changing sexual mores contribute to the pro-life movement?
How did the 1970 opening of New York to elective abortions impact public opinion? What is "abortion on demand"?
How did Reagan's endorsement of the HLA shift Republican politics?
Was Reagan successful in helping the pro-life movement, or was he merely throwing them a bone to get votes?

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