Gabriel Salguero, the pastor who prayed over the opening of the Democratic National Convention, in July called for the party to reject “abortion extremism.”
Salguero, president of the National Latino Evangelical Coalition who served in former President Barack Obama’s faith-based advisory council, signed an open letter with more than 100 other faith leaders asking that the party broaden its views on the issue.
“We appreciate the Democratic Party’s stated commitment to human rights, equality, and fairness,” said the letter, released by Democrats for Life. “Accordingly, we urge the Democratic Party to embrace policies that protect both women and children: legal protection for pre-born children, improved prenatal care for women in need, especially women of color, alternatives to abortion, and a comprehensive culture of life free from violence, poverty and racism.”
The letter also asked the party to reject “a litmus test on pro-life people of faith seeking office” and to back down from “explicit” support of “abortion extremism” in the party’s national platform.
Salguero did not mention abortion or the protection of the unborn in his prayer.
Father James Martin, a Jesuit priest slated to pray over the convention after Biden speaks on Thursday, confirmed on Monday to the Washington Examiner that he will explicitly pray for the protection of the unborn during his speaking time.
Several Democratic lawmakers in anticipation of the convention signed an open letter urging the party to commit to support for the Hyde Amendment, which bars federally funded abortions, and to back off promises to codify Roe v. Wade.
