She’s trying to rile up Christians.
During a recent MSNBC panel, a prominent investigative journalist from Politico, Heidi Przybyla, stirred controversy by asserting that attributing rights to God is indicative of “Christian nationalism.” Przybyla, known for her insightful commentary, suggested that former President Donald Trump is aligning himself with an “extremist faction of conservative Christians,” who, she claims, are manipulating concepts like “natural law” to undermine reproductive and LGBTQ+ rights.
Drawing attention to the evolution of Trump’s support base, Przybyla highlighted a shift towards a more radical element within the evangelical community, contrasting it with the reluctance of mainstream evangelicals to embrace Trump’s candidacy in 2016 due to his personal indiscretions. She warned viewers about groups like “Christian nationalists” and the “New Apostolic Reformation,” which she believes hold significant sway in Trump’s inner circle.
Przybyla made a clear distinction between ordinary Christians and those she labels as “Christian nationalists,” emphasizing that while they may share a religious identity, their ideological underpinnings differ significantly. The crux of her argument revolves around the belief that these Christian nationalists assert divine authority as the source of American rights, rather than recognizing them as products of earthly institutions like Congress or the Supreme Court.
Central to Przybyla’s critique is the concept of natural law, which she acknowledges has historically been a force for positive social change, including its role in the civil rights movement. However, she contends that a fringe element of conservative Christians is now misappropriating this doctrine to advance a regressive agenda, particularly regarding issues such as abortion and same-sex marriage.
Przybyla’s assertions echo themes explored in her recent Politico article co-authored with Alexander Ward, titled “Trump allies prepare to infuse ‘Christian nationalism’ in second administration.” The article delves into the potential influence of Christian nationalism on Trump’s policymaking if he were to return to the White House.
However, Przybyla’s remarks have not gone unchallenged. Critics, including figures like former Trump administration officials Russell Vought and William Wolfe, have pushed back against her characterization, accusing her of misunderstanding fundamental American political principles and Christian theology. They argue that acknowledging God as the source of rights is not inherently synonymous with Christian nationalism.
In response to the backlash, Przybyla clarified her position, emphasizing that her criticism is directed not at religious belief itself, but at the instrumentalization of such beliefs to justify specific policy agendas. She contends that while rights may indeed be grounded in religious faith for some, the imposition of religiously motivated policies infringes upon the rights of those with differing beliefs, illustrating a tension between religious freedom and secular governance.
Natural Law tells us that human life begins at conception. This makes abortion premeditated murder. Natural Law also tells us that we are born either male or female and no one can truly change from one to another. If you are born male you can never conceive and give birth and if you are born female you will never be able to impregnate a woman no matter the hormone treatment one receives or surgery one undergoes..