Perkins and his colleagues’ concern for human life is fixated on the point before it is birthed into the world; after that, one can only conclude from his views on other policy matters that we are on our own.

These leaders don’t have a monopoly on morality and Americans who don’t share their fundamentalist religious beliefs shouldn’t cede it to them—to do so is to cede the political battlefield.

We have the right to enjoy our sexuality and to decide if and when we will embrace the sacred responsibility of bringing children into the world. The role of government is to ensure that the basic principle of consent is adhered to concerning the former and that a secure polity and hospitable economy are provided to the latter. It is otherwise not to police us within the privacy of our bedrooms.