Chris Matthews Latest Absurdity

Chris Matthews has claimed in essence that the pro-life position is something akin to Shariah law.  From NewsMax:

“...to have that notion that that [fertilized egg] would be a person under this personhood thing that Ryan’s pushing, and under the 14th Amendment rights, the platform that Romney’s running on. This is extremism. I say (to the) center right tonight, it's almost like Shariah."

Matthews went on to say Romney and Ryan would govern from a religious viewpoint. 

“We're going to run our country this way, to the point of making a woman's decision to have an abortion, her reproductive rights, as criminal, perhaps murderous.”

Aside from the usual hostility from the media to pro-life views, a few questions seem to be in order.

What part of "endowed by their Creator with unalienable rights" stated unambiguously in our Declaration of Independence is it that Matthews finds too religious for American government?

Does he really believe that Ryan, a Catholic, would join with Romney a Mormon, to fashion some sort of theocratic government?  

Is a belief that life begins at conception merely a religious belief?  Or is there good, rational, medical grounds for thinking that a "fertilized egg" that immediately begins to develop and grow at such a rate that a heart beat is measurable within 8 weeks and brain activity measurable in 12 might be objectively called a "living" being?

With respect to the comparison to Shariah, in what rational sense is a belief that a living being is entitled to protection in the same category as advocacy of genital mutilation? 

Do pro-life folks routinely practice honor killings?

Are those who cut the throats of blasphemers and stone women without due process at the mere accusation of adultery likely to volunteer time and money to provide counseling, shelter and financial aid to pregnant women as an alternative to abortion?

And who benefits most from unfettered access to abortion:  Women or the promiscuous men who impregnate them and abandon them? 

Matthews understands neither Sharia nor the Pro-Life position, or more likely, he finds it strategic to avoid any distinction.  The tragedy is that his absurd nonsense gains traction with many who then dismiss pro-life folk as religious bigots without a scintilla of understanding of the compassion that motivates them.