Focus on the Family president Jim Daly writes:
Legendary football coach and NBC analyst Tony Dungy came under fire on Thursday night after word spread on social media that he had agreed to speak at today’s March for Life in Washington, D.C.
Dave Zirin, a radical Leftist and sports editor for The Nation, accused NBC of coddling Dungy’s “right-wing extremism” and called the soft-spoken coach, who believes the Bible is inerrant, “an anti-gay bigot.”
Whether as a player, a coach or a member of his church, Coach Dungy has modeled how to bring the Christian faith into the public square. His principled convictions mixed with his gentle demeanor have been widely lauded for years. He’s the kind of man mothers and fathers hope their sons grow up to be.
That Coach Dungy is being labeled a hater illustrates just how far and how unhinged pro-abortion zealots have become. Few people of his stature and influence would agree to speak at a national pro-life rally – but the coach won’t be intimidated. He speaks his mind. In a recent tweet in which he was responding to the pro-abortion Senator Raphael Warnock (D-GA), the Hall of Fame coach wrote:
It all comes down to what you believe about the organism growing inside the mother. Is it a life or not? If it is just growing tissue then your “choice” makes sense. If it’s a life then it’s obviously not OK to choose to end it. What does your Bible tell you it is? Psalm 139:16
That verse in Psalm 139 reads:
“Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.”
After recording a Focus on the Family broadcast late one afternoon, coach and I went to dinner. After coming through the doors at Ted’s Montana Grill, it took us 30 minutes to make our way to our table in the back of the restaurant. Every patron came up to meet him and ask for an autograph. He met and signed everything he was asked to sign. After dinner, we repeated the adventure to exit the restaurant. He is a good man, and people know it. I would caution the pro-abortion zealots and LGBT advocates to be cautious trying to take down a beloved person because it will eventually be the end of your power.
I applaud Coach Dungy’s principled and bold defense of life. He is to be commended, not condemned. I’m looking forward to his remarks at today’s rally. I hope you can watch, listen or participate. Please join me in praying for his safety, peace of mind, and the general welfare of everyone involved. Let’s also pray for those whose hearts are hard, hurting and angry.
