Print 
PDF
"With their presence as well as their prayers, 10 diverse faith leaders proclaimed what too few people have heard: Religious people can be pro-choice, not in spite of their faith, but because of it"...so says Rev. Katey Zeh, interim executive director of Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice.
It's an expanding "ministry," they say.
Here's what you should know.
Be Informed.
Religion News Service (RNS) says this report does not necessarily represent their views or beliefs, but really...it does. That's why they published it.
Rev. Katey Zeh seems to have found a new avenue of "ministry" and she's passionate about it.
She writes,
"The other day, I joined clergy from many faiths in a worship service that, like many others, featured poetry, music, ritual and prayer. But this service was different. It's purpose was to bring blessings on a reproductive health clinic that provides abortions."
She says, "Religious people can be pro-choice, not in spite of their faith, but because of it."
The theology behind blessing abortion.
She explains the problem:
"Too few have heard this, in large part because Christian conservatives have been exceptionally loud and strident in condemning abortion as religiously and morally unacceptable. But their religious understanding of abortion is not the only understanding. It never has been."
She's right in a sense. Followers of Baal, mentioned often in the Old Testament, considered themselves "religious" and considered it an act of worship to cast their unwanted children into a fire during a religious ritual.
But the religious Left identify as Christians, for the most part. The press most always identifies them as "Christian."
If she's referring to the "Christian" faith, why would anyone's religious understanding of abortion be anything other than God's understanding?
Did God not say: "Thou shalt not kill"? And has not medicine and ultrasound shown us that the bump in the mother's tummy is a baby? And it's a baby even before it's a bump? It becomes a baby at conception.
Zeh says:
"Presbyterians, Episcopalians, Unitarian Universalists, United Church of Christ members, Disciples of Christ members and Reform and Reconstructionist Jews are among the people of faith who affirm individuals, free of others' judgment, considering all options for responding to a pregnancy."
She says while some of these groups different in theology a little bit, they are all on the same page because they "share a core set of values. They believe that each person is created in the divine image with the right to make decisions about their own bodies and their own lives."
The crux of the Left's theology is defined like this: We are called as Christians "to be compassionate and affirming. We believe that God accepts the decisions of conscience each person makes."
"Let your conscience be your guide," is not always the best plan. Clearly, Scripture teaches that our conscience must be informed by God's Word. When our conscience is informed by any other "truths," our conscience is not a godly guide. Particularly when it conflicts with God's Word. As abortion does.
Other so-called "blessing services" have been held in various cities across the nation.
A gathering in McAllen, Texas was organized by the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Health and Catholics for Choice. Rev. Cari Jackson told the group there that "pro-life laws restricting abortion are ungodly, unconstitutional and unacceptable."
Gaby Garcia-Vera of Catholics for Choice told the group and the television media "faith is not copyrighted by a small band of antiabortion protesters outside a clinic... Abortion in good faith is about compassion for all and respect for each one exercising conscience."
Is this merely symbolic or do they really think God will bless abortion?
No, they say it's more than symbolic. The "blessing" this Reverend is participating in... "brings solace and encouragement to the clinic's clients and the health care professionals who serve them."
Rev. Zeh shared journal entries from former clients with those in the clinic.
She says,
"As I spoke their words of honesty and wisdom I was moved to tears by their strength, resolve and deep faith. We recognize that those who receive care at the clinic may struggle with stigma, shame and guilt that originates not necessarily from within themselves, but from the messages taught by their families, communities and places of worship."
In this system of belief, those who have abortions are the victims---victimized, not by a predatory Planned Parenthood network, but by those who are pro-life. Those who are pro-life have attached stigma, shame, and guilt on those who abort their babies.
Since God has given us free will, they reason, whatever we choose regarding an unborn child, is right before God.
Blessing abortion clinics sends important messages.
Rev. Zeh says it first and foremost tells elected leaders that not all people of faith oppose abortion. "It signals," she says, "to abortion foes that progressive people of faith are defending reproductive health, rights and justice and honoring reproductive decisions of those who receive abortion care."
Another point made by these and other progressives--"For those actively involved in organized religion, a clinic blessing can be a rallying point, urging "greater solidarity on this divisive issue in these threatening times for reproductive and other freedoms."
A physician who joined a clinic blessing in Washington DC revealed how the blessing might continue to make an impact in the future.
She said,
"Now we can tell clients who may be frightened or emotional, 'This is blessed space'. The whole women's clinic in Austin is also a blessed space, not only because of our ritual of blessing...but because providing reproductive health services has always been sacred work."
The doctor said, "Together may we create even more spaces that accept and welcome each person's reproductive decisions."
The takeaway.
Paul writing to the Galatians (1:6 ) expressed surprise at how quickly they had accepted a different gospel. He said, "I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel." He explained that there are some who want to "pervert the gospel of Christ."
He told the Romans (16:17), "I appeal to you brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive."
Paul said, "The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet" (NKJV).
There is a concerted, newly energized effort on the part of the homosexual activists, the abortion activists, and the so-called progressive religious Left to use Scripture to affirm their agenda and mislead the naive.
From the promotion of homosexual behavior, redefining family and marriage, abortion and open borders, activists are using Scripture to appeal to the public, acting as though they come in the name of the Lord.
Recently, the Democrat Party openly discussed and strategized how they might better reach out to evangelicals and "those nominally familiar with biblical teaching."
Be Informed. Be Discerning. Be Faithful. Be Prayerful.