 Assembly sanctions late-term abortions By Paula R. Kincaid The Layman Online Sunday, June 23, 2002
The statement, in part, reads: "The ending of a pregnancy after the point of fetal viability is a matter of grave moral concern to us all, and may be undertaken only in the rarest of circumstances and after prayer and/or pastoral care, when necessary to save the life of the woman, to preserve the woman's health in circumstances of a serious risk to the woman's health, to avoid fetal suffering as a result of untreatable life-threatening medical anomalies, or in cases of incest or rape." The recommendation for approval came from the Committee on Health and Social Issues. A minority report opposing the committee's recommendation, which failed by a 64 percent vote, made the argument that, "The church counsels women late in pregnancy to make a decision most likely to preserve both their own lives and the lives of their children. The ending of a pregnancy by an abortion after the point of fetal viability is a matter of grave moral concern to us all, and may be undertaken only when necessary to save the life of the mother. We urge our members to surround these families with their prayers and tangible support." A question from the floor, concerning what health conditions in the mother might necessitate a late-term abortion, was answered by a doctor who said there were no medical indications for late-term abortion. She said the health risks are greater to the mother than delivering the child. "Abortion is never medically indicated," she said. She said the methods of late-term abortion -- such as dismemberment or inserting scissors into the back of the skull -- are more painful to the baby than delivery. The Rev. Carol Tompkins of Eastern Oklahoma Presbytery said finances are the reason many women are unable to learn of medical anomalies until late in the pregnancies. "We do not have the right to heap guilt on these women and men in their time of need," she said. Elder Alex Metherell of Los Ranchos Presbytery, a physician licensed to practice in California, said the "matter before us concerns only late-term abortions. That means the baby can survive outside the womb." He said if the committee's recommendation was approved, the PCUSA would be the only mainline denomination to endorse partial-birth abortion. The Rev. Kimberly Young of Des Moines Presbytery said the only difference between the two recommendations was that the committee's recommendation had more possible exceptions. Both call partial-birth abortions "a grave moral concern" and both say it is something not to be taken casually. "If there is one case where an exception must be made, I must vote that that exception be made," she said. A youth advisory delegate quoted Jeremiah 1:5, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations." He said it is easy for some to justify killing the unborn because they are unseen. "We argue whether the unborn actually is a person or not, … the unborn is still a creation of God and we have no right to kill that creation." Elder Ruth Wasem of National Capital Presbytery said she realized the gravity of the decisions these women have made. "Let me be clear, women must be trusted to make decisions about their reproductive health and must have access to the full array of reproductive health services," she said. The Rev. Donald A. Elliott of St. Andrew Presbytery quoted from Matthew 25: "Whatever you do unto the least of these, you do unto me." He said the "minority report speaks to the least of these. … Will we end the week just winking at 16,000 late-term abortions a year?" Providing coverage for partial-birth abortion In a similar matter, the assembly voted to follow the recommendation of the committee to allow the Board of Pensions to provide coverage for partial-birth abortion. The Presbytery of Redstone had submitted Overture 02-48 asking the assembly to take the steps necessary to preclude coverage of its medical benefit plan for partial-birth abortions, saying that "the specific statement of 'moral concern' regarding babies who can live outside the womb was adopted in 1997 … The Board of Pensions continues to provide unrestricted abortion coverage. This overture would direct the Board of Pensions to more accurately conform to General Assembly abortion policy …" Youth Advisory Delegate Steven David Bryson of St. Andrews Presbytery, who spoke against the committee's recommendation, said, "I'm not asking to make this procedure illegal. I'm simply asking to stop using the Lord's money to pay for this procedure." |
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