 Undisclosed review of abortion policies brings mixed reaction By Paula R. Kincaid The Layman Online Friday, February 4, 2000 A team assigned to review the abortion policies of the Presbyterian Church (USA) has concluded that church entities downplayed a 1992 policy considered moderately pro-life in favor of an unbridled pro-choice policy adopted in 1983, according to the Presbyterian News Service. However, Terry Schlossberg, executive director of Presbyterians Pro-Life and a key observer of Presbyterian policy on the abortion issue, said the review team's report has not been made public and that she does not know whether those conclusions were reached.
Nonetheless, the Presbyterian News Service seemed to have an inside track on the report. "The team said General Assembly entities have 'generally complied' with denominational policy, but its findings substantiate the claims of Presbyterians Pro-Life and other groups and individuals that Assembly entities have failed to adequately include the 1992 policy – which is much more cautionary about abortion than the policy from nine years earlier – in denominational resources and programs," according to the account by the Presbyterian News Service. The 1992 policy calls abortion "the choice of last resort" and that while a woman's decision to terminate a pregnancy can be a morally acceptable decision, it is "certainly not the only required decision" in a case of problem pregnancy. In her commentary posted on the Presbyterian Pro-Life web site on January 30, Schlossberg, said that the team "ended their second and final face-to-face meeting without adopting a report. But the group seemed to agree that for the most part the abortion 'policies' are being implemented satisfactorily. Dora Lodwick, co-moderator, proposed that the group offer some 'suggestions' rather than recommendations, for tinkering with implementation so as not to appear to be a whitewash of their charge." Schlossberg said that reporters at the meeting were not allowed to see the preliminary report. ACSWP Coordinator the Rev. Peter Sulyok told Presbyterian News Service that the reason reporters were not allowed to see the preliminary report was because "the monitoring team hasn't even seen what Dora and Nancy have prepared." Sulyok was referring to Dora Lodwick of Denver and the Rev. Nancy Becker of Portage, Ind., both of whom serve on the team. Schlossberg said the monitoring team was planning at least two more conference calls before the final report was ready for the General Assembly. "We have concluded that in numerous instances, General Assembly entities cited the 1983 policy when the 1992 policy would have been more appropriate," Becker told the Presbyterian News Service. "Lodwick and Becker said the final monitoring team report – which will go to the upcoming General Assembly in Long Beach, Calif., for approval – will recommend that the shortcomings cited in the report be referred to the appropriate entities for 'corrective action,' that an internet site be developed that will include all policy statements and resources on abortion and problem pregnancy; and that denominational resources on abortion be reviewed periodically to ensure full compliance with General Assembly policy," the news service said. Commentary by Terry Schlossberg posted on the Presbyterian Pro-Life web site on January 30, 2000 PC(USA) Leans Too Far to the Pro-Choice Side Group Says Church entities urged to support moderate policy adopted by '92 GA By Jerry L. Van Marter Presbyterian News Service January 26, 2000 |
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