Be pro-life, but don’t legislate on that belief

LETTERS LETTERS@USATODAY.COM In Ross Baker’s column, “Democrats’ foolish abortion orthodoxy,” he claims that NARAL has set a religious test for who should receive support from the Democratic Party. That is plainly false. We believe it is wrong for politicians to legislate their own beliefs onto women, who deserve the right to make their own medical decisions. Elected officials have a duty to represent the will of their constituents — and the majority of Americans support legal abortion, including more than six in 10 Catholics.

NARAL has supported candidates who are morally opposed to abortion, and we will continue to as long as they do not legislate their beliefs onto others. Candidates who work to undermine reproductive freedom, and do not take meaningful action to change course, shouldn’t receive support from a party with a platform that unequivocally supports reproductive freedom. This was the case with Heath Mello, whose record includes support for banning abortion after 20 weeks, among other anti-choice legislation.

The decision to have an abortion is as personal as the decision not to. It’s a decision that many make in consultation with family, physicians, faith leaders and friends. To legislate whether a woman can make that decision at all is wrong. Kaylie Hanson Long NARAL Pro-Choice America Washington, D.C.