Via Media

"Abortion is a Blessing"

Monday March 30, 2009

Categories: Life Issues
The Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge has unanimously elected a new dean, Dr. Katherine Ragsdale.

Chris Johnson at the Midwest Conservative Journal posts:

How radically pro-abortion is Katie Rags?  This radically pro-abortion:

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

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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.

I want to thank all of you who protect this blessing - who do this work every day: the health care providers, doctors, nurses, technicians, receptionists, who put your lives on the line to care for others (you are heroes -- in my eyes, you are saints); the escorts and the activists; the lobbyists and the clinic defenders; all of you. You're engaged in holy work.



So...what's up with that?

(New readers need to understand that I'm very interested in Episcopal/Anglican goings-on. My interest is simply in all religious systems, the pull between origins, tradition and the contemporary moment...and so on. I'm behind in my studies, so to speak, and at times, I get overwhelmed, as when GAFCON broke my brain last year, but I remain pretty fascinated and concerned.)

Oh, so..."abortion is a blessing."

To whom?

What has always puzzled me about the Christian abortion advocate is how two positions can be held simultaneously:  1) The position that God calls each of us by name, brought us each into existence in a specific, loving act of creation, treasured just as we are and 2) this same God is either indifferent or enthused when the currette comes for the helpless one that has been, you know...loved into existence and is treasured just as she is...


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Comments
Your Name
April 21, 2009 12:05 AM

There goes the "personally opposed, but" argument. "Pro-choicers" really are pro-abortion.

James A.
April 30, 2009 7:05 PM

This is the inevitable end result of Henry VIII's lust for power.
Thank God I made it to Rome ! Extra Ecclesiam Nulla Salas !

Angel
June 11, 2009 12:19 PM

you are the craziest person i ever met..abortion is wrong. one of the ten conmendments is "thou shall not kill". and when u have an abortion you're breaking that conmandment.

Amy Welborn
June 11, 2009 1:27 PM
http://blog.beliefnet.com/viamedia/

Not me - the dean of the Episcopal Divinity School.

Your Name
July 11, 2009 11:57 AM

For those who think "most Episcopalians wouldn't leave their church", read http://anglicanuse.org/

That said, we mustn't compare the pedophilia problem with this particular abortion issue. Pedophilia is a terrible sin, which members of the clergy were/are guilty. However, if a priest or leader stands and preaches that it is "a blessing", or good or morally acceptable in any way, then the two issues can be compared. As it stands, the sin/act of pedophilia can only be compared to the act/sin of an abortion. Let's compare act to act, and preaching acceptance to preaching acceptance.
Please understand that I am not deciding that one is worse than the other; I am simply saying that the sins of an individual (or even hiding the sin) is not the same as defending the action. No official of the RCC ever made a speech saying that anyone in the Church EVER believed that pedophilia is good or right or acceptable.

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About Via Media

This blog is no longer updated and is closed for comments. We welcome your comments about Catholicism in our Catholic forums.

Amy Welborn is the author of 17 books on prayer, saints, apologetics and church history. Her articles and columns have appeared in Our Sunday Visitor, Commonweal, First Things, Catholic Digest, Liguori, and been syndicated by Catholic News Service.

Amy has an MA in Church History from Vanderbilt University and spent several years working in Catholic schools and parishes before taking up writing full time. She was married to Catholic author Michael Dubruiel until his unexpected death in February of 2009. She has five children ranging in ages from 4 to 26.

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