Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Interesting piece on a shift in abortion strategy among some...

I thought this piece was interesting, since it relates to some things I pondered during the election season.

5 comments:

Angie Van De Merwe said...

Thank you for this. I appreciate the cooperative effort to "do good" in this political issue. But, I do quesion giving grant money to pregnant women, while I wholeheardedly endorse helping single women with childcare, healthcare, etc.

Keith Drury said...

Thanks for the research link--I had a Tuesday Column outlined on this already... but this provides some more support

Angie Van De Merwe said...

Although I agree that corperation is needful to get the job done. And the job is to benefit the mothers and children who are in need. Isn't this a way that the people who believe in an idealized spirtualized "gospel" "DO" the social gospel? I really don't see the need for using the term "gospel" anyway...because the excluded in the community, are supposed to behave as included (cooperate), so that they can be useful for the function and purpose of the organizational structure of the Church, which isn't "good news" for them, is it?...Isn't this using human beings for other purposes other than their own ends (I'm not talking about my ends)? I've said before that I agree with Kant that a person is an end in themselves....

Mr. Guthrie said...

I find the Christians quoted in the article to be misinformed as to the Church's pro-life activities. About ten years ago the pro-life movement decided that focusing exclusively on overturning Roe v Wade was counter-productive. Groups such as the National Right To Life began focusing more on efforts to reduce the number of abortions by electing national, state and local office holders sympathetic to the pro-life agenda and attempting to change the minds of pro-choice politicians who are otherwise conservative on issues. Their change in tactics have caused some to label them as traitors.
As for working to reduce the number of abortions, both the Evangelicals and Catholics have worked to provide services to reduce abortions. One prominant example are Crises Pregnancy Centers. I was on the board of one when I was a pastor in Yadkin County, N.C. They not only try to counsel women already pregnant not to have an abortion. Many offer free pregnancy testing and classes on sex-education. The center that I served had a program that spoke to youth honestly about sexual issues and pregnancy. Some involved in such programs are even able to gain access to public school students. Many centers also work to place women and children in positive home environments or arranging adoptions.
The studies that show that laws against abortion are ineffective in reducing their numbers are not irrefutable. National Review Online for 10/30 features an article challenging the methodolgies and conclusions of such studies.
The people featured in the article you link to are reacting more to a stereotypical view of pro-lifers than to actual knowledge their activities

Ken Schenck said...

Thanks for this info...