Last summer, an important yet relatively unnoticed piece of law-making occurred in the U.S. House of Representatives.  It centered on issues of life and morality, and demonstrated a chilling political reality regarding the involvement of Christians in politics.    

This issue was the tax-payer funding of the destruction of embryonic life; embryonic stem-cell research.  Current law prohibits tax-payer funding for the creation of embryos in order to destroy them in hopes of advancing scientific and medical research.  

The measure was H.R. 810, sponsored by Representatives Mike Castle (R-DE) and Dianne Degette (D-CO).  It directly challenged the Executive Order of President Bush that put a halt to the advancement of embryonic stem cell research with tax-payer money.  Under the bill’s provisions, federal monies would be used to directly support the destruction of human life at the embryonic stage.  H.R. 810 came to the floor of the House or Representatives in May of 2005 and was passed by a vote of 238 to 194.

The sting of this defeat to the Culture of Life was only mitigated by the fact that, unbeknownst to all but a few, a small group of committed Pro-Life legislators worked hard to be ensure that just enough “Nays” were cast to support the President should he veto the bill and prevent the possibility of over-riding any veto. 

While all of this may seem like inside baseball to the average citizen, it demonstrates a significant fact that should set off alarm bells for every church-goer that has ever felt the slight satisfaction that comes with finding a voter guide tucked under the windshield of their car after a Sunday service in late October.  That fact is:  After more than thirty years of pro-life and family values activism, the majority in Congress does not reflect Judeo-Christian priorities.