Tag Archives: Abortion

A Pro-Life Ethic Revisited

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I want to return to my theme of a pro-life ethic. By this I don’t an ethic only anchored in abortion or right to life. It’s an ethic I want to build for ALL of life.

But I return to it because of the horrifying case of Kermit Gosnell. He was convicted of killing three babies after they were born. He performed many late term abortions.

For “pro-lifers” this is a rallying case.

Already pro-abortion people are couching this case in these terms:

Supporters of legalized abortion said the case offered a preview of what poor, desperate young women could face if abortion is driven underground with more restrictive laws.

I’m sorry. You may be trying to sell that, but I’m not buying. 

It’s just not plausible. Abortion is legal and these poor women were still exploited by this man. It was all “above ground” and babies who could have easily lived died.

This is a case where we truly need to walk through more of a true “pro-life” ethic. Not just a narrow view of limiting abortions. It’s helping the poor. It’s doing better in our education. It’s churches not abandoning the urban core so we can try and reach and teach young women.

It’s about having a pro-life ethic that will treat women well, so they will not be sexually exploited by men who abandon them. A pro-life ethic will need to address the SYSTEM. All the way through. Regardless if the original idea of some part of the system was “Republican” or “Democrat.”

Do not excuse Gosnell’s actions. Do NOT put this off as something that will further strengthen abortion laws. I am one “pro-lifer” who truly wants a conversation about later-term abortions ONLY. I have yet to meet a “pro-choice” person willing to concede. They are like NRA members foaming at the mouth if they are threatened with giving up 15 bullet magazines. THAT needs to stop.

I know there will not be any honest conversation out of this. Only excuses from the left. Only rants from the right. I know that.

But I pray for something more. And, if anyone is listening, I am willing (as one) to work for more. To work for BETTER. Because I know this: We can talk about poor women being on the margins, but those babies Gosnell killed were ALSO on the margins and they ALL deserve a voice.

One of these days my pleas may be heard. Until then, I pray. I ask. I plead.

The Gosnell Debacle

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While the media has been incredibly late to the story, at least the New York Times broke the headline just now that Kermit Gosnell has been found guilty of first degree murder.

He is the abortion doctor accused of killing babies after they have been taken from the womb.

How “pro-abortion” people have kept silent on this and have not been horrified with this man and his actions is beyond me. Actually, it’s not beyond me. I understand. I just don’t like it.

Today marks a day when it is possible we could finally see the horrifying cases of “late term” abortions exposed. Possible. Not likely. But… possible.

 

Abortion, Gun Rights, and Zealousness

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This article has as its title that abortion rights “has become” the NRA of the left. I think it’s been that way for a very long time.

The issue with Kermit Gosnell is despicable and the silence from any part of any Christian community other than “pro lifers” has been appalling.

We have a rabid allegiance on the left to abortion rights and on the right to “gun rights.” Both have a “take no prisoners” mentality that is beyond disappointing. It is disgusting.

There. Said it.

Blast away.

 

 

 

 

The Ugliness That Gets “Lightly” Reported

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Finally, after FIVE WEEKS of trial, the grisly story of an abortion doctor performing late term abortions and murders makes it to the main stream media.

And they don’t hold back any details. This is not light reading, folks. But it MUST be read.

We can talk of the violence in our schools, in Boston, in Iraq… but the violence committed in the name of “choice” can turn horrific… and we stand by silently…

This will kick at the allegiances of our culture, but my allegiance is not to this culture. Not in this matter.

Roe

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Today is the 40th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision. A decision that came on the end of over a decade of intense upheaval in our nation as we battled over civil rights, the Vietnam War, and crooked politicians. It has been an ongoing symbol of division that in many ways was a capstone of a deeply divided era. And it has managed to keep us deeply divided.

It is a passionate subject no matter what. To bring it up here is a huge risk for me personally, since I really like to be liked.

But I have a pro-life ethic I am trying to build in my own life, so this is kind of the tap root of what people think of when I use those words “pro-life.” I choose that phrase carefully because I want people to realize what I am trying to develop is something more, but when we hear certain words or phrases, we stop hearing and start yelling. That’s precisely why I chose “pro-life ethic.” Because I want us to STOP doing that. We need to start hearing each other once again. We need to start thinking again. I have high hopes. There are days I think it’s more fantasy than hope, actually.

I still dream. I still hope. I still want to develop a Kingdom ethic that is not driven by political agendas of the day.

So, I remember Roe v. Wade today.

And I pray for those who never got the chance to see life. I pray for those unborn now who risk that possibility.

I pray for those who have been victims.

I pray for better adoption laws.

I pray for better teaching in our schools.

I pray for better care for humanity all the way around.

I pray against the culture of individualism that has given rise to incredibly selfish living and attitudes.

I pray for the Holy Spirit to pour through us in compassion to engage those who are hurting. I pray for those who face incredibly painful decisions concerning pregnancy.

I pray for the Church to be more prophetic and less political. More prophetic and less pathetic. We need the prophetic voice of the Kingdom rising up to cut through the mistake of taking “sides” in political parties and acting in a way that brings LIFE and BLESSING to our culture.

For the selfish, for the confused, for the abused, for the abandoned, I pray for grace and mercy.

Lord, hear my prayer.

Bowing to the Beast

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Since the Susan G Komen Foundation bowed to the beast of our culture, which is represented in this case by Planned Parenthood, all is well once again in our world.

Here is what we learn: do not poke the bear.

But poke we must.

Christianity Today takes it on here.

Some pointed words:

In all of this, though, we can gain an opportunity to see what the abortion culture is all about: cash. Planned Parenthood and their allies use the thoroughly American language of freedom of choice and women’s empowerment, but what’s at stake, as seen here, are billions of dollars. That’s why, despite their talk about adoption as a “choice,” Planned Parenthood and others hardly ever lead women through an adoption process relative to how often they promise them the “fix” of a “terminated pregnancy.” There’s a profit motive involved in every abortion.

But that Christianity Today. A bunch of bigots. No need to pay attention there.

Then we have a “bigoted” columnist that somehow got a job in the New York Times (probably to show they are “balanced”). He poked the bear as well in THIS COLUMN. (And if you don’t think he poked, read the vicious comments he receives below the column.)

There are a couple of beasts that have been stirred and they are demanding the allegiance of our culture: Money and sex. Mess with those two in our culture in any way and just watch what happens.

But, Komen has bowed once again to the beast. All is well. Don’t speak loudly. Don’t make any sudden movements. And above all: bow down.

Abortion

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I work hard to stay away from what may seem to be “political” statements on my blog. Facebook is different.

Yet, the whole blow up this week with Planned Parenthood and the Susan G. Komen Foundation has so crushed my spirit, I am going to take that risk.

I repent for not remembering Pro-Life Sunday (as well as MLK Sunday). I have let the politics of this fundamental issue dictate my silence… and I am wrong.

This issue is beyond abortion, in my opinion. It is not about “pro-life” or “pro-abortion.” It is about a bigger god that demands worship and when some small organization with a small amount of money came along to this beast and clipped its hangnail, the beast roared. The small organization then “got back in line” to not offend this raging god.

I can’t serve that god anymore through my silence. I just can’t. Hopefully I will be able to slide this post by without having a lot of angry posts, but if I do, I’m going to deal with it.

I pray to the Lord:

Lord God, I thank you today for the gift of my life,
And for the lives of all my brothers and sisters.
I know there is nothing that destroys more life than abortion,
Yet I rejoice that you have conquered death
by the Resurrection of Your Son.
I am ready to do my part in ending abortion.
Today I commit myself
Never to be silent,
Never to be passive,
Never to be forgetful of the unborn.
I commit myself to be active in the pro-life movement,
And never to stop defending life
Until all my brothers and sisters are protected,
And our nation once again becomes
A nation with liberty and justice
Not just for some, but for all,
Through Christ our Lord. Amen!

Roe v. Wade

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To my shame I did not mention the passing of the date that commemorates Roe vs. Wade.

In fact, we rarely mention it at all anymore. This article from ten years ago highlights we may have been bored of this for quite some time.

Getting past the issue of “unwanted pregnancies,” or “endangering the life of the mother,” when I think about the loss of life in the past decades, and how we have lost the possibility of many fresh voices in our world… it is tragic. It is tragic I don’t remember this date more. It is tragic we don’t even dare to think of the loss of life anymore.

This isn’t some call to vote Republican or hate Democrats or vote any way at all. It’s just a pause… to think… Voices lost… creativity halted… advancements not even attempted… because we have lost millions of possibilities.

We are a diminished generation no matter how you slice it.