How United Methodists Became Pro-Life After 44 Years and Left Hillary Clinton Behind
Dr. Mark Tooley: There’s no surprise because she was deeply shaped by Methodism growing up in the church outside Chicago and often has spoken of her Methodist background.
She was very much influenced by 1960’s era Social Gospel Methodist activism, especially by a radical Methodist youth magazine and by an activist youth pastor. Her politics and worldview are a product of her experiences in that era.
CH: As a church historian, take us back to the early 1970’s. Where did the American culture and evangelical churches stand on this issue of the right to life?
Tooley: Historically, Christianity has opposed abortion. Mainline Protestants in America began openly flirting with abortion rights in the 1960’s, though the advocacy of contraception and alliance with Planned Parenthood — at least for some church elites — dates to the 1920’s....