{"id":2442171,"date":"2025-06-03T09:50:58","date_gmt":"2025-06-03T13:50:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/southern-baptists-face-opposition-from-their-own-public-policy-arm\/"},"modified":"2025-06-03T09:54:20","modified_gmt":"2025-06-03T13:54:20","slug":"southern-baptists-face-opposition-from-their-own-public-policy-arm","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/southern-baptists-face-opposition-from-their-own-public-policy-arm\/","title":{"rendered":"Southern Baptists Face Opposition from Their Own Public Policy Arm"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fsouthern-baptists-face-opposition-from-their-own-public-policy-arm%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2442171&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The Southern Baptist Convention, the largest Protestant association in the U.S. with nearly 47,000 churches and 13 million members, is known for its conservative stance on social issues, including abortion. At their upcoming annual meeting, Southern Baptists will discuss strategies to oppose abortion, a commitment they have consistently reaffirmed through resolutions recognizing the need to protect pre-born life. However, there is growing concern regarding the role of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC), their public policy arm, which some believe has undermined their efforts to abolish abortion. <\/p>\n<p>Critics, including Southern Baptists advocating for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/fbi-comes-under-fire-for-lack-of-response-to-attacks-on-pregnancy-clinics\/\" title=\"FBI Comes Under Fire for (Lack of) Response to Attacks on  Pregnancy Clinics\">stricter anti-abortion measures<\/a>, have pointed to a letter signed by ERLC President Brent Leatherwood that opposed certain legislative efforts to criminalize abortion, contributing to the failure of an equal protection bill in Louisiana. This legislation aimed to extend the same legal protections to pre-born children as those enjoyed by born individuals. Leatherwood&#8217;s involvement has sparked outrage among members who feel their established views are being thwarted by the very commission meant to support them.<\/p>\n<p>The article emphasizes that many Southern Baptists are dedicated to ending abortion and see pre-born children as deserving protection. It calls for reform or potential disbandment of the ERLC if it continues to oppose their collective goals on this critical issue, especially as abortion rates rise in the U.S. as the overturning of Roe v. Wade. The piece concludes by asserting that the fight against abortion is substantial and requires unified support from Southern Baptist leadership.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<section> \t\t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC4)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (REP_0)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (REP_1)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>Southern Baptists rightfully have a reputation as a bulwark of conservative evangelicalism.<\/p>\n<p>With almost 47,000 churches and nearly 13 million members, the Southern Baptist Convention is the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sbc.net\/about\/what-we-do\/fast-facts\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">largest<\/a> Protestant association of churches in America. Those churches and their members are known to have broadly conservative views, both on theological matters and on social issues.<\/p>\n<p>The issue of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/tucker-carlson-dares-tell-truth-abortion-will-politicians-listen\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">abortion<\/a> is no exception. Southern Baptists assemble each year at an annual meeting where they vote on various resolutions, and there have been <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sbc.net\/resource-library\/resolutions\/?fwp_resolutions_by_tag=abortion\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">dozens<\/a> on abortion, reflecting their desire to recognize pre-born life and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/senate-democrats-working-on-bill-to-codify-roe-v-wade-into-law\/\" title=\"Senate Democrats Working on ... to Codify Roe v. Wade Into Law\">protect pre-born children<\/a> under the law.<\/p>\n<p>When the Southern Baptists assemble in the coming days in Dallas, they will once more consider how they can oppose the murder of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/stephen-king-blasts-senator-susan-collins-over-texas-abortion-law\/\" title=\"Stephen King Blasts Senator Susan Collins Over Texas ... Law\">pre-born babies<\/a> in our nation.<\/p>\n<p>But in order to most effectively accomplish that task, they may have to disband the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, their own public policy arm, which has shockingly subverted efforts to end abortion.<\/p>\n<p> <script type=\"text\/javascript\"> \t\t\tif ( getCookie( \"ff_subbed\" ) ) { \t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"stnvideo\").remove() \t\t\t} else { \t\t\t\tdocument.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\", function() { \t\t\t\t\tfunction loadScript(src) { \t\t\t\t\t\tconst script=document.createElement(\"script\"); \t\t\t\t\t\tscript.src=src; \t\t\t\t\t\tscript.async=true; \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.body.appendChild(script); \t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t\tfunction findPreviousParagraph(selector, x) { \t\t\t\t\t\tconst targetElement=document.querySelector(selector); \t\t\t\t\t\tif (!targetElement) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.warn(\"Target element not found.\"); \t\t\t\t\t\t\treturn null; \t\t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\t\t\/\/ Get all <\/p>\n<p> elements in order as they appear in the document \t\t\t\t\t\tlet paragraphs=Array.from(document.querySelectorAll(\"p\"));  \t\t\t\t\t\t\/\/ Find the index of the last <\/p>\n<p> before the target element \t\t\t\t\t\tlet targetIndex=paragraphs.findIndex(p=> p.compareDocumentPosition(targetElement) & Node.DOCUMENT_POSITION_PRECEDING);  \t\t\t\t\t\tif (targetIndex===-1 || targetIndex <x) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.warn(\"Not enough paragraphs before the target element.\"); \t\t\t\t\t\t\treturn null; \t\t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\t\treturn paragraphs[targetIndex - x]; \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\t\/\/ Set up IntersectionObserver \t\t\t\t\tfunction observeElement(element) { \t\t\t\t\t\tif (!element) return;  \t\t\t\t\t\tconst observer=new IntersectionObserver( \t\t\t\t\t\t\t(entries)=> { \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tentries.forEach(entry=> { \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tif (entry.isIntersecting) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.log(\"Paragraph is now visible:\", entry.target.textContent.trim()); \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tloadScript(\"https:\/\/embed.sendtonews.com\/player3\/embedcode.js?fk=s28Az7AY\"); \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tobserver.disconnect(); \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t\t\t\t\t}, \t\t\t\t\t\t\t{ threshold: 0.5 } \/\/ Adjust threshold as needed \t\t\t\t\t\t);  \t\t\t\t\t\tobserver.observe(element); \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\t\/\/ Find the 1st paragraph before #stnvideo and observe it \t\t\t\t\tlet paragraphToObserve=findPreviousParagraph(\"#stnvideo\", 2); \t\t\t\t\tobserveElement(paragraphToObserve); \t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t} \t\t<\/script> <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Southern Baptists have likely heard that <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/LeatherwoodERLC?\">@LeatherwoodERLC<\/a> signed a letter opposing a bill to abolish abortion in Louisiana.<\/p>\n<p>But they may not know the letter has been used in several other states to kill efforts to end abortion&hellip; &#129525; <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/qbfFZJuLgF\">pic.twitter.com\/qbfFZJuLgF<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Foundation to Abolish Abortion (@AbolitionistFAA) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/AbolitionistFAA\/status\/1922725748734861819?\">May 14, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><br \/>  That subversion became clear shortly before the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.<\/p>\n<p>In the spring of 2022, a bill in Louisiana to establish equal protection under the law for pre-born children was advancing in the state legislature, promising to fully abolish <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/planned-parenthood-president-presided-4-million-baby-murders-dies-age-67\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">abortion<\/a> and extend legal protections offered to born people under existing homicide laws to pre-born people as well.<\/p>\n<p>Southern Baptists in Louisiana happened to be the primary advocates behind that bill. The proposal was simple: Since preborn people are image-bearers of God, they should be protected from murder in the same way as all other image-bearers of God who have already been born.<\/p>\n<p>The legislation passed easily out of committee and was scheduled for a floor vote only a few days after the draft opinion that would overturn Roe v. Wade was leaked to the public. But on the morning of the vote, several <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >dozen national pro-life establishment groups issued<\/a> a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nrlc.org\/uploads\/communications\/051222coalitionlettertostates.pdf?fbclid=IwAR0a5AeteleAfSnkfx1jNH1ebfbs-TPf8ZI9XSNkvZbw_dfODENgZWc4WRg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">letter<\/a> insisting that any bill &ldquo;seeking to criminalize or punish women&rdquo; for willfully having abortions should not be supported. The letter insisted <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/one-pro-life-claim-may-actually-keeping-abortion-legal\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">categorically<\/a> that &ldquo;women are victims of abortion.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Brent Leatherwood, the president of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, had signed the letter, and his name was featured prominently in the document alongside pro-life leaders. The equal protection bill failed, despite having the votes to pass only a few days beforehand.<\/p>\n<p>Just one year earlier, Southern Baptists had approved a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sbc.net\/resource-library\/resolutions\/on-abolishing-abortion\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">resolution<\/a> noting that &ldquo;governing authorities at every level have a duty before God&rdquo; to establish &ldquo;equal protection under the law for all, born and pre-born,&rdquo; rendering the signature from Leatherwood even more perplexing.<\/p>\n<p>Southern Baptists who had supported the bill confronted Leatherwood weeks later at the annual meeting, seeking to learn why he weaponized their own denomination to oppose their advocacy.<\/p>\n<p>Brian Gunter, the senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Livingston, Louisiana, challenged the claim that women should never be penalized for having abortions, saying he thought Southern Baptists believed that &ldquo;no person should be able to murder an innocent child in the womb.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Leatherwood defended his signature and denied that the letter was specifically meant to subvert the bill in Louisiana. That letter has nevertheless been used in several other states, including and especially conservative states, over the past three years to oppose equal protection.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">The letter signed by <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/LeatherwoodERLC?\">@LeatherwoodERLC<\/a> three years ago against abolishing abortion has been used to kill such efforts in Louisiana, Missouri, Kentucky, and North Dakota. Southern Baptists must hold <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/LeatherwoodERLC?\">@LeatherwoodERLC<\/a> to account for that during their annual meeting next month. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/VQSgylNDCh\">pic.twitter.com\/VQSgylNDCh<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Ben Zeisloft (@BenZeisloft) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/BenZeisloft\/status\/1922709601989939270?\">May 14, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><br \/>  Kentucky Right to Life <a href=\"https:\/\/kyrighttolife.org\/2023\/02\/addia-wuchner-statement-on-proposed-legislation-penalizing-vulnerable-women\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">invoked<\/a> the letter in early 2023 when opposing another equal protection bill in their state. Missouri Right to Life and Campaign Life Missouri <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/BenZeisloft\/status\/1922717798708469949\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">followed<\/a> suit a few months later with similar legislation. Several pro-life <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/planned-parenthood-celebrates-texas-pro-life-group-opposes-bill-end-abortion\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">establishment<\/a> groups cited the letter in 2024 when <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/major-pro-life-organizations-accused-thwarting-bill-recognized-abortion-murder\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">opposing<\/a> an equal protection resolution for the <a href=\"https:\/\/sbaprolife.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/North-Dakota-Letter.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">platform<\/a> of the North Dakota Republican Party.<\/p>\n<p>Southern Baptists want to end abortion across the country. They correctly view pre-born babies as image-bearers of God who should be protected by the same laws that protect born people.<\/p>\n<p>They have made this stance clear, and yet the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, the institution Southern Baptists trust to wield their considerable influence in the public square, has not only been derelict in advancing that stance, but has consciously subverted that stance.<\/p>\n<p>This reality should not be tolerated, especially when millions of pre-born lives are at stake.<\/p>\n<p>There are now even more abortions in our country than in the years before Roe v. Wade was overturned, and women in conservative states have increasingly turned to self-induced abortion, which remains legal under loopholes in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/scotus-to-hear-appeal-over-ky-abortion-law\/\" title=\"SCOTUS to hear appeal over Ky. ... law\">pro-life laws<\/a> that equal protection bills would close.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Did you know that abortions are on the rise, even in states which claim to have banned abortion?<\/p>\n<p>Pro-Life laws are directly enabling this&hellip; &#129525; <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/E3jtE7MyYj\">pic.twitter.com\/E3jtE7MyYj<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Foundation to Abolish Abortion (@AbolitionistFAA) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/AbolitionistFAA\/status\/1925202652775748076?\">May 21, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><br \/>  Other efforts from the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, ranging from the <a href=\"https:\/\/christoverall.com\/article\/concise\/evangelism-islam-border-security-and-national-identity-moving-past-the-erlcs-mosque-building-mood\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">defense<\/a> of mosque construction to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.republicsentinel.com\/articles\/how-a-major-southern-baptist-entity-is-subversively-opposing-gun-rights\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">support<\/a> of gun control legislation, have rightly raised alarm among Southern Baptists for several years. But opposing bills that would end abortion is easily the most harmful public policy action the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission has taken.<\/p>\n<p>God hates the murder of little children, and everywhere his people have spread throughout the world, they have labored to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/op-ed-grassroots-want-republicans-actually-end-abortion\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">end<\/a> child sacrifice, abortion, infanticide, and similar national evils.<\/p>\n<p>Southern Baptists have followed in the Great Commission task of not only preaching the gospel of salvation to our country and many others, but also loving their neighbors as themselves, whether or not those neighbors happen to have already been born. Southern Baptists across the nation spend considerable time, talent, and treasure saving babies and opposing abortion.<\/p>\n<p>The fact that the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, which is supposed to support and amplify the moral witness of the Southern Baptist Convention, has instead subverted that witness on the critical issue of ending abortion in our nation must be addressed in Dallas.<\/p>\n<p>If the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission is not willing to reform itself and support the abolition of abortion, then Southern Baptists have not only the right, but also the duty and responsibility, to start the process of abolishing the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p><i><b>The views expressed in this opinion article are those of their author and are not necessarily either d or endorsed by the owners of this website. If you are interested in contributing an Op-Ed to The Western Journal, you can learn about our submission guidelines and process <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/submitop-ed\/\">here<\/a>.<\/b><\/i><\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* Name<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* <\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<label>* Message<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t<textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\"> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> \t\t<script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey==typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts={ \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs=[ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i=0; i <inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! 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With nearly 47,000 churches and around 13 million members, the Southern Baptist Convention stands as the largest Protestant church association in the United States. The beliefs of these churches and their congregants tend to be predominantly conservative regarding both theological issues and social topics, including abortion. Each year, Southern Baptists gather for an annual meeting where they vote on various resolutions related to abortion, demonstrating their commitment to acknowledging pre-born life and advocating for legal protections for unborn children.<\/p>\n<p>As they convene in Dallas soon, Southern Baptists will once again deliberate on how best to combat the issue of pre-born child murder in America. However, achieving this goal may require them to disband their Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC), which has surprisingly undermined efforts aimed at ending abortion.<\/p>\n<p>Recently, many Southern Baptists learned that ERLC President Brent Leatherwood signed a letter opposing a bill intended to abolish abortion in Louisiana-a letter that has been used in other states to thwart similar initiatives. This became evident shortly before the Supreme Court&#8217;s decision overturning Roe v. Wade when a Louisiana bill aimed at granting equal legal protection for pre-born children was gaining traction with significant support from local Southern Baptists.<\/p>\n<p>Despite initial momentum leading up to a scheduled vote on this legislation-designed simply to protect all image-bearers of God from murder-the bill faced opposition after national pro-life organizations issued a letter stating that any legislation penalizing women who have abortions should not be supported. Leatherwood&#8217;s signature on this document raised questions among those who had advocated for the bill since it contradicted previous resolutions passed by Southern Baptists affirming equal protection under the law for both born and unborn individuals.<\/p>\n<p>In subsequent weeks following this incident, concerned supporters confronted Leatherwood during their annual meeting seeking clarification about his actions against their advocacy efforts. Although he defended his position by claiming that his signature was not meant specifically to undermine Louisiana&#8217;s bill, it has nonetheless been cited across multiple states-including Missouri and Kentucky-to oppose similar measures promoting equal protection.<\/p>\n<p>Southern Baptists firmly believe that all pre-born babies deserve legal protections akin to those afforded born individuals; however, they feel let down by an institution meant to represent them publicly but which appears instead committed to subverting these values regarding abortion rights.<\/p>\n<p>With rising numbers of abortions occurring even in states claiming bans-and increasing instances of self-induced abortions due largely due loopholes-there is growing concern over public policy actions taken by organizations like ERLC opposing bills designed explicitly aimed at ending such practices.<\/p>\n<p>The ongoing situation calls into question whether ERLC can reform itself or if it is time for Southern Baptists collectively consider abolishing it altogether if it continues failing its mission concerning one of society&#8217;s most pressing moral issues: protecting innocent lives from being lost through abortion<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2442172,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Baptist-Church.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[41356,3760,38835,49287,56194],"class_list":["post-2442171","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-internal-conflict","tag-opposition","tag-public-policy","tag-religious-organizations","tag-southern-baptists"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Baptist-Church.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2442171","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2442171"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2442171\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2442175,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2442171\/revisions\/2442175"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2442172"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2442171"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2442171"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2442171"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}