I stopped voting for Democrats when the party shrunk the tent and left pro-lifers outside in the wilderness. I don't know who decided that the core values of Western civilization -- and the Christian faith that produced them -- were unwelcome, but somebody did. The result is that pro-life Democrats have gone the way of the dinosaur. They have been, for all intents and purposes, driven to political extinction.

It wasn't always that way, not even in Boston. Sure, old guard politicians did what they could to gain and maintain power. But once they had it, they seemed to wield it on behalf of those who were relatively powerless. And while they were certainly progressive, the old Democrats also appeared to know that there were things worth holding onto; things that ought to be conserved and passed on. They took the words "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" seriously and as a uniquely American gospel.

From a political point of view, moving to Louisiana was like moving to Jurassic Park. Here in the Gulf South, the dinosaurs roam freely; there are still a significant number of Democrats who, as sincere people of faith, promote the sanctity and value of every human life. The recent wave of "heartbeat" initiatives in state legislatures would not have been successful without them. And I am grateful.

I am grateful for leaders who are willing to defend life even though it makes them pariahs of their political party and laughing stocks among coastal sophisticates. I am inspired by the courage it took for members of the Democratic Party to support -- and even introduce -- legislation to protect unborn children from the threat of abortion on demand. Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, and Louisiana are not among the wealthiest states, or those with the highest levels of income or education. But when it comes to civic virtue, they own the high ground. The proof of that is the list of Hollywood and high tech elites threatening to boycott these states for failing to fall into line with their extremist agendas.

Every spring since 1989, the Kennedy family has honored someone with the Profiles in Courage Award. The award is intended to highlight the virtue of courage in public life, courage as John F. Kennedy wrote about it in his Pulitzer Prize-winning book by the same name. The 2019 recipient is Democrat Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi -- the typical radical abortion advocate we've come to expect when we see the letter "D" after someone's name.

Ironically, though, Kennedy's book chronicles the careers of statesmen who defied their political parties to do what they believed was right. These men paid a steep price for their choices, often suffering damage to their future political careers. Most were not only criticized, but ostracized by their fellow party members. But do I expect that next year's award will go to Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards? Not a chance. And that's a shame.

Courage is the virtue for our times. It takes courage today not only to stand up for what is right, but to publicly acknowledge that there are right things -- and wrong ones. It takes courage these days to simply disagree, to think for one's self rather than acquiesce to dominant opinions and points-of-view. It takes courage, too, to express faith in God, to be counted among those poor, ignorant, imbeciles who dare to think they can thwart the well-funded and orchestrated plans of progressive elites. And it takes courage to willingly face the false accusations, name-calling, and bullying that are aimed at people who don't conform and refuse to shut up about it. Yet, there are still courageous people among us, thank God, and some of them are even Democrats.



- Jaymie Stuart Wolfe is a Catholic convert, wife, and mother of eight. Inspired by the spirituality of St. Francis de Sales, she is an author, speaker, and musician, and serves as a senior editor at Ave Maria Press. Find Jaymie on Facebook or follow her on Twitter @YouFeedThem.