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4 Things Christians Should Know about the Republican Platform

  • Michael Foust Crosswalk Headlines Contributor
  • Updated Aug 21, 2024
4 Things Christians Should Know about the Republican Platform

The Republican Party's platform is one of the shortest party platforms in modern political history but also one of the most direct, giving voters an easy-to-read document that clearly outlines the party's core principles and priorities.

From religious liberty to abortion to LGBT proposals, the platform summarizes the party's key positions with simple language that leaves little room for misinterpretation.

Here are four things Christian conservatives should know about the Republican platform.

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  • Trump

    1. It Pledges to Protect Religious Liberty

    The platform says Republicans "will champion the First Amendment Right to Pray and Read the Bible in school, and stand up to those who violate the Religious Freedoms of American students."

    Further, it promises a federal task force to oppose "anti-Christian bias."

    "We are the defenders of the First Amendment Right to Religious Liberty," the platform says. "It protects the Right not only to Worship according to the dictates of Conscience but also to act in accordance with those Beliefs, not just in places of Worship, but in everyday life. Our ranks include men and women from every Faith and Tradition, and we respect the Right of every American to follow his or her deeply held Beliefs. To protect Religious Liberty, Republicans support a new Federal Task Force on Fighting Anti-Christian Bias that will investigate all forms of illegal discrimination, harassment, and persecution against Christians in America."

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  • Gender Ideology

    2. It Promises to Oppose Gender Ideology

    The platform takes a stance on several controversial LGBT issues, including sports and transgenderism. 

    "We will keep men out of women's sports, ban Taxpayer funding for sex change surgeries, and stop Taxpayer-funded Schools from promoting gender transition, reverse Biden's radical rewrite of Title IX Education Regulations, and restore protections for women and girls," the platform says. 

    Further, the platform says Republicans will "cut federal funding for any school pushing critical race theory, radical gender ideology, and other inappropriate racial, sexual, or political content on our children."

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  • Pro Life

    3. It Backtracks on Key Issues

    Although social conservatives applauded the platform's language on religious freedom and opposition to gender ideology, they bemoaned the platform's retreating on two key issues: abortion and same-sex marriage. 

    It's the weakest pro-life language in a GOP platform since the 1970s.  

    "We proudly stand for families and Life. We believe that the 14th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States guarantees that no person can be denied Life or Liberty without Due Process and that the States are, therefore, free to pass Laws protecting those Rights," the 2024 platform says. "After 51 years, because of us, that power has been given to the States and to a vote of the People. We will oppose Late-Term Abortion while supporting mothers and policies that advance Prenatal Care, access to Birth Control, and IVF (fertility treatments)."

    Every GOP platform since the 1970s had supported federal protections for the unborn -- often with strong pro-life language. The 1984 platform, for example, stated, "The unborn child has a fundamental individual right to life which cannot be infringed." The new platform says it's an issue for the states.

    Additionally, the 2024 platform is the first platform since 1972 not to reference the "unborn." The new platform also backs IVF -- a procedure opposed by many pro-lifers. Previous platforms did not discuss IVF.

    Meanwhile, the 2024 platform removes the GOP's opposition to same-sex marriage -- an issue that first entered a GOP platform in 1992 when it stated, "We oppose any legislation or law which legally recognizes same-sex marriages." 

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  • Israel

    4. It Vows to Stand with Israel

    The platform's language on Israel isn't lengthy, but it is nevertheless to the point. 

    "Republicans will strengthen Alliances by ensuring that our Allies must meet their obligations to invest in our Common Defense and by restoring Peace to Europe. We will stand with Israel and seek peace in the Middle East. We will rebuild our Alliance Network in the Region to ensure a future of Peace, Stability, and Prosperity. Likewise, we will champion Strong, Sovereign, and Independent Nations in the Indo-Pacific, thriving in Peace and Commerce with others."

    Related Article: 4 Things Christians Should Know about the Democratic Platform

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    Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.