What the religious right thinks of Republicans' new birth control platform

Eliminating the doctor as a middleman and making birth control easy to obtain could result in its misuse, the critics say. Over-the-counter access to pills that could cause abortioins—intentionally or accidentally—would be their worst nightmare.

“There are several serious health complications with birth control pills,” said Jennifer Mason, communications director for Personhood USA. “Some pills could cause abortions; even aside from the moral implications, it’s reckless to make abortion and contraception pills available over the counter.”

The strategy has glazed over specifics of how the policy would actually work, which has some on the Religious Right worried about what exactly would be sold, and to whom.

“I’m not certain when they say birth control if they’re talking about abortifacients or not,” said Connie Mackie, president of the Family Research Council Action Pact. “If it’s not clear to some pro-lifers, that could turn them off.”