I was angered when I read portions of a sermon by The Rev. Dr. Katherine Ragsdale. She’s the pro-abortion president of the Episcopal Divinity School. This is where pastors are shaped for service, and where future leaders of the church are formed. I ache when I think of the future of the church in North America. Kyrie Elison.
Here’s part of the sermon:
“And when a woman becomes pregnant within a loving, supportive, respectful relationship; has every option open to her; decides she does not wish to bear a child; and has access to a safe, affordable abortion – there is not a tragedy in sight — only blessing. The ability to enjoy God’s good gift of sexuality without compromising one’s education, life’s work, or ability to put to use God’s gifts and call is simply blessing. These are the two things I want you, please, to remember – abortion is a blessing and our work is not done. Let me hear you say it: abortion is a blessing and our work is not done. Abortion is a blessing and our work is not done. Abortion is a blessing and our work is not done.”
Ending the life of a baby for lifestyle reasons is not a blessing, but the Curse. Since when is the phrase, “abortion is a blessing and our work is not done” to be chanted by the church of Christ. We are a people broken by sin; we need Jesus. My heart aches. Kyrie Elison.
You can read more here.
Posted by Scott on April 22, 2009 at 5:52 pm
I’ll respond here as I did in my email:
I was nearly sick when I read her sermon excerpt. Abortion is not a blessing – it’s one of the greatest evils ever perpetrated by mankind. I’m not one to say that abortion should never be practiced – it may sometimes be the lesser of two evils. But it is always an evil. The idea that a woman (and a man, for that matter) should be able to put their careers, their education, or anything else ahead of the life of another human being, even an ‘unborn. human being, is disgusting. And to think that abortion is a reasonable choice when the adoption system is backlogged not with children but with waiting parents!
Every society is judged by how it treats the weakest among its people, and that always includes the children. To think that we now have a society where infants can be slaughtered at the whim of a mother or father puts our society on a level with ancient Babylon or worse. I realize that women who undergo abortions are not (usually) doing it with a smile on their face. They are not in a good place, and it’s not easy for them. They deserve as much love and support, respect, understanding, and compassion as we can possibly give them. And as I said, abortion may sometimes, rarely, be the lesser of two evils. But this notion that it’s a blessing?! A blessing?
Preston, it leaves me frothing at the mouth.
Posted by Jonathan Le Tocq on April 28, 2009 at 9:08 am
Thank you Preston for being so clear and honest about this tragic preaching of error, encouraging people to compound sin with sin. I find it incredible that someone who can confess to love and follow Jesus could say such things.
Perhaps I am biased. I know that if abortion had been legal in my native island of Guernsey in 1964 when I was born, I probably would not be here typing this now. As the illegitimate child of a teenager who found herself pregnant I am grateful that the option she chose was to have me adopted. So from the time I was 11 days old I was brought up as the only child of a childless couple in their early 50s, bringing them joy, and bringing me immediately into a Christian home where I would come to know Jesus as Saviour before my 5th birthday.
Yes I am grateful.
Nevertheless, putting aside ’selfish’ reasons, I think Rick Warren’s questioning of Barck Obama on the abortion issue prior to his election was prudent. He asked something along the lines of “When do you believe a foetus is entitled to human rights?” A question Obama decided to avoid with a flippant quip!