President-elect Obama has said he wants to make abortions “rare,” while keeping the procedure legal. That’s not what the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice wants. It wants more abortions, not fewer, and it is lobbying Obama to adopt its position.

In a letter to the president-elect, the coalition of liberal denominations – which include the United Methodist Board of Church and Society and some Jewish groups – asks Obama to sign the Freedom of Choice Act. The act would repeal all restrictions on abortion and insure abortion on demand at any time, for any reason. They also want the Hyde amendment repealed. It prohibits federal funds from being used to pay for abortions overseas.

Mark Tooley of the Institute on Religion and Democracy says, “Many on the evangelical and Catholic left promoted Obama’s candidacy, promising his administration would work to reduce the number of abortions in America. Such advocates should now work to counteract RCRC’s squalid campaign.”

I wouldn’t count on it. These religious groups are more about political power than the power of God.

Cal Thomas is a nationally syndicated columnist based in Washington, D.C.