Also Promises to Appoint ‘Pro-Life Supreme Court Justices’
Facing a group of some 1000 anti-abortion activists, pastors, anti-LGBT activists, hate group heads, and other evangelical leaders, Donald Trump on Tuesday attempted to quell fears among the religious right that he might not be an authentic social conservative, and may not fully adhere to their values.
Trump made two promises to the evangelical leaders at Tuesday’s New York City meeting. He will appoint Supreme Court justices who oppose abortion, The Washington Post reports, hinting he would want to overturn Roe v. Wade. And Trump promised the evangelicals, many of whom run religious non-profits, he will get rid of the Johnson Amendment, a six-decade old law that bans non-profits with a tax-exempt status, including churches, from directly engaging in partisan politics, such as endorsing or opposing political candidates.Â
“I think maybe that will be my greatest contribution to Christianity — and other religions — is to allow you, when you talk religious liberty, to go and speak openly, and if you like somebody or want somebody to represent you, you should have the right to do it,†Trump said.
“Christianity, I owe so much to it in so many ways, though life, through having incredible children, through so many other things,” he told the crowd, promising to reinvigorate spirituality across the nation. “We’ve got to spiritize this country,” Trump said following comments about what he saw as a lack of “spirit” in the inner cities. “And I’m not only talking about the inner cities. I’m talking about everywhere,” he added.
According to The Dallas Morning News, event participants expressed deeply skeptical feelings about Trump going into the event. “I know a lot of people who are holding their nose,†said Marjorie Dannenfelser, a prominent anti-abortion activist. Expressing a fear common among many in the GOP, Penny Nance, head of conservative Christian women’s advocacy group Concerned Women for America, wondered if the religious right could ever get truly enthusiastic about their nominee. “Probably everybody here will vote for him,” said Nance. “The question is whether they’ll work for him. Will they put their credibility on the line for Donald Trump?â€
Afterwards, attendees appeared to have a slightly warmer view of Trump. “It’s hard to be confident when these seem to be recent feelings and beliefs,” said Trey Graham, a pastor from First Melissa Baptist Church in Melissa, Texas. “The positive is, he is expressing those beliefs that concur with what we believe about pro-life justices and religious liberty. Am I comfortable? I’m encouraged.”
Tony Perkins, President of anti-gay hate group Family Research Council, appeared supportive. “He gained a lot by coming here,” he said. Possibly referring to Trump’s history of philandering and divorce, Perkins added, “We’re all sinners. We all have messed up. We did not have a theological discussion today about the eternal security of one’s soul. We were talking about the present threat to America.”
Trump has made several moves recently to broaden his appeal among evangelical Christians. Just hours ago he announced that Tea Party favorite and former Minnesota Representative Michele Bachmann would join his Evangelical Executive Advisory board.
But at an hour-long press conference capping off Tuesday’s seven-hour long meeting, without Trump present, none of about six Evangelical leaders, including Perkins, who were taking questions raised their hands when asked if they were ready to endorse the presumptive GOP nominee.
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