(Pulse Life Advocates) The 39th President of the United States, Jimmy Carter passed away yesterday (Dec. 29, 2024) at the age of one-hundred.
He first ran for president, and won, in 1976 when abortion was just beginning to be an issue in national elections. As a committed evangelical Christian, he was greatly conflicted on the abortion issue:
“I don’t believe that Jesus would approve abortion except in the case of incest, rape or the mother’s life in danger. But I had to enforce the Supreme Court ruling on Roe v. Wade so I tried to do everything I could to minimize the need for abortions.”
Nonetheless, he didn’t think Roe should be overturned:
“When I was president, I announced and I still maintain that I can live with Roe v. Wade. I did everything I possibly could as president under that ruling, which I don’t think ought to be changed, to minimize the need for abortions. I think every abortion is a result of a horrible series of errors on the part of people involved.
Unlike the leaders of his party today, Carter wanted to see abortion minimized:
“I believe that we should do anything we can to minimize abortion and not to encourage it.”
[Click here to subscribe to Pregnancy Help News!]
Despite his fervent belief in Christ, Mr. Carter had a tough time balancing his faith with his party’s politics:
“Jesus never mentions abortion. But I think that Jesus did care for the unborn child, I think that Jesus did care for people who were completely helpless, who depend on others for their life and livelihood. I just believe that this should be minimized if possible.”
And there’s the rub. Carter couldn’t bring himself to accept the possibility that Christ wants abortion eliminated, not minimized.
Jimmy Carter R.I.P.
Tweet This: “Jesus never mentions abortion. But I think that Jesus did care for the unborn child ..." - the late U.S. President Jimmy Carter.
Editor's note: This article was published by Pulse Life Advocates and is reprinted with permission.
