Evangelical Conservatives Question Trump

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NEW YORK (ChurchMilitant.com) - Following Donald Trump's responses to Evangelicals' worries at a meeting Tuesday with about 1,000 Christian leaders, some remain hesitant to put Trump in the Oval Office.

A number of conservative voters look at Donald as the lesser of two evils, but that opinion isn't persuasive enough to give him their votes. These leaders want to endorse Trump, but they can't hop onto the "Trump Train" just yet, and are expressing a desire to continue dialogue with him until they feel their doubts have been assuaged.

Tony Perkins, head of the group United in Purpose, spoke after the meeting in a press conference and made a few comments that speak of the necessity of continuing conversation. "There are evangelicals ... that are looking, they want to be with Donald Trump because they see the alternative." Perkins elaborated later, continuing,

They're ready for someone who is going to champion their freedom to believe. Donald Trump came out today and had a conversation. Now, we don't agree on everything. ... [W]here will this lead? I'm not quite sure. But a conversation began today that I believe is going to continue over the next 130 days.

For Kristan Hawkins, president of Students for Life of America, skepticism remains. "Yes, we know he's definitely better than Clinton," she commented, "but are we going to work for a candidate who has said these things? I'm sitting here thinking: How will pro-life millennials hear the things he said? How hard will they work for him?"

Hawkins was not among the six people selected to ask Trump questions, which included topics like religious liberty, national security, immigration and marriage. Many of Trump's answers were greeted with applause.

"I think maybe that will be my greatest contribution to Christianity, and other religions," remarked Trump, "is to allow you, when you talk religious liberty, to go and speak openly, and if you like somebody or want somebody to represent you, you should have the right to do it."

Trump also went on about his desire to appoint pro-life justices on the Supreme Court and his plan to protect religious liberty, which includes encouraging religious practice in public environments, e.g., with a coach and his football team.

In an interview with The Blaze, Dr. Alveda King, director of Priests for Life's "Civil Rights for the Unborn" program, said, "I can't say they've all jumped on the Trump train, but he did address their concerns."

Polls have Trump holding more than 40 percent of the Evangelical vote.

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