Leading Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton said in a recent speech that she wants to change the "wrong" and "deep-seated" religious beliefs of Americans.
Speaking about women's access to reproductive health care, Clinton implied that some religious beliefs run counter to laws and rights.
"Laws have to be backed up with resources and political will. And deep-seated cultural codes, religious beliefs and structural biases have to be changed," Clinton said.
"Yes, we've cut the maternal mortality rate in half, but far too many women are still denied critical access to reproductive health care and safe child birth. All the laws we've passed don't count for much if they're not enforced. Rights have to exist in practice not just paper," she added.
The former Secretary of State further said that the "advancement of the full participation of women and girls in every aspect of their societies is the great unfinished business of the 21st century."
For Christian author, historian and Bible teacher Dr. Eddie L. Hyatt, however, Clinton's view that religious beliefs need to be changed in order to allow women to fully practice their reproductive health rights presents a dangerous proposition.
Hyatt believes Clinton's recent statement is a direct affront to evangelical Christians and their beliefs.
"She made it clear that she wants to aggressively confront and change this 'wrong thinking' in American society," the Christian author said.
He further said that this early in the campaign, Clinton is showing that she is willing to "use the strong arm of government to force a change in the religious beliefs that they deem unacceptable and threatening to their vision."
"What is troublesome is that she would bring this change, not by employing persuasive arguments, but by the brute force of governmental power," Hyatt said.
Hyatt also contrasted Clinton with former US President Benjamin Franklin.
Although Hyatt considered Franklin as "one of America's most non-religious founders," the former US president was an advocate of religious liberty and wanted Christian principles and values taught in every public domain.
"Although Franklin questioned certain aspects of Christian doctrine during his life, he believed Christian virtue and morality to be absolute necessities for a stable society and prosperous nation," Hyatt said.
"Whereas Clinton wants God out of government, Franklin wanted God to be a vital part of government," the Christian leader said.
