Christian nationalism has, once again, raised its ugly head in the Maine Legislature.

Christian nationalism is an ultra-conservative religious movement, one that most Christians do not subscribe to. It seeks to impose a peculiar interpretation of the Bible on everyone else, regardless of their religion or philosophical principles.

During a floor debate, Rep. Michael Lemelin, R-Chelsea, promoted Christian nationalism when he said God draws a moral line in the sand and that there are consequences when we cross that line. According to Rep. Lemelin, those consequences were the recent storms and the mass shooting in Lewiston. They were punishment for “immoral” choices. He also characterized L.D. 227, a bill to protect health care for transgender people, as “the purest form of evil” and added that it had been “influenced by Lucifer himself.” Lemelin also objected to L.D. 1619, a bill to expand abortion access. When he finished, Rep. Shelley Rudnicki, R-Fairfield, agreed.

So, what were last year’s “immoral” choices? I ask you, is it immoral to protect the individual’s right to health care services in Maine? Is it immoral to protect healthcare practitioners from actions taken by another state? Is removing the requirement to make public the names of those who had an abortion immoral? Is allowing a licensed physician to determine when an abortion is necessary immoral? Lemelin and Rudnicki object to these provisions of L.D. 227 and L.D. 1619.

The House voted unanimously to censure Lemelin and Rudnicki. To their credit, several Republicans in the House called Lemelin out; in addition to mixing religious beliefs into government, his remarks questioned the character and motives of other legislators. Still, House Minority Leader Billy Bob Faulkingham, R-Winter Harbor, made no public comment condemning Lemelin and Rudnicki’s statements.

Earlier, L.D. 780 (“An Amendment to the Constitution of Maine to Protect Personal Reproductive Autonomy”) was defeated by a party-line vote. The bill was introduced by Maine Sen. Eloise Vitelli, D-Arrowsic. Twenty-one Democratic senators supported the bill, while 13 Republican senators voted against it. Republicans opposing the bill argued it disregards the rights of the unborn, and the language used raises unanswered questions. “There are real concerns about what (reproductive autonomy) could be argued to mean and what unintended issues may arise when this comes to be argued in courts,” said Senate Minority Leader Lisa Keim, R-Dixfield.

Those who voted against the bill by citing the “rights of the unborn” and “unintended issues” were avoiding the question. The question was not how to amend the Maine Constitution. The question was whether Maine voters should be allowed to decide if they wanted to create a constitutional amendment to protect reproductive autonomy, including access to abortion, birth control, and fertility care. “The ability to determine our reproductive health is a fundamental human right, and it deserves the same level of protection as other constitutionally protected rights,” said Sen. Vitelli.

By voting against this bill, Republicans showed they were uninterested in hearing from their constituents. They showed they were afraid Maine voters would follow other states and vote to enshrine access to abortion, birth control, and fertility care in Maine. Democracy requires Maine voters to be allowed to determine for themselves if they want to protect a woman’s right to choose. Denying Maine voters that right shows Republicans value their personally held religious beliefs more than they do the will of the people.

Democrats highlighted the need for the bill in the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision and said a constitutional amendment is needed to ensure protections in the event of future changes in state law. A spokesperson for Planned Parenthood of Northern New England said it is troubling that others would oppose access to essential medical care as well as prevent Mainers from weighing in on the ballot.

“It is crystal clear that extremists in (Maine) and across the country will do everything they can to take away our rights and freedoms,” said Lisa Margulies, vice president of public affairs for Planned Parenthood Maine Action Fund and Planned Parenthood of Northern New England. “Whether it’s the right to contraception, assisted reproductive technology like in vitro fertilization, full-spectrum pregnancy care, or abortion, Mainers should not have to worry about those rights being revoked election to election.”

The fight to protect access to reproductive health care in Maine is not over. If one assumes that the Democrat who’d been excused would have voted in favor, the measure would have passed the Senate if two “no” votes had gone the other way.

You can make a difference in November’s election. Research the candidates, and you will see which candidates value your vote and which don’t.