Institute on Religion and Democracy: 'Christian Leaders Should Oppose Conscripting Women into the Military'

The Institute on Religion and Democracy is asking that Catholics, evangelicals and Christians all unite against proposals that would draft women into combat roles if needed.

According to The Christian Post, the proposals for whether women should register for a draft came after the Pentagon approved allowing women to serve in combat roles.

“Christian leaders should oppose conscripting women into the military. Not only evangelicals, but also Catholics and Christian pacifists should speak out. Can the Church be silent about the potentially coercive militarization of America's daughters?" said IRD's Evangelical Action Director Chelsen Vicari.

"Women are serving and have been serving their country alongside men. We support and thank them for their sacrifices. Women have important roles to fill in the military, but women also play vital roles in the home. Forcing mothers, daughters, and our sisters to register for Selective Service would be a tragic mistake," she said.

Now presidential candidates are weighing in on the subject. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said in a Republican debate that registering women would be fair, and candidates Sen. Marco Rubio and former Florida governor Jeb Bush agreed.

However, Sen. Ted Cruz argued that registering women for a draft situation was “immoral” and “nuts.”

“Political correctness is dangerous, and the idea that we would draft our daughters to forcibly bring them into the military and put them in close combat, I think is wrong," he said.

Publication date: February 10, 2016