Presbyterian Lay Committee condemns PCUSA’s stance on partial-birth abortion Posted Wednesday, Oct 2, 2002
Editor’s Note: On June 22, the 214th General Assembly – by a 77 percent vote – approved a statement that sanctions late-term abortions.
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.”
In response to this action by the 214th General Assembly, the directors of the Presbyterian Lay Committee, in San Diego at their semi-annual meeting Sept. 19-22, unanimously approved the following:
An Open Letter to All Presbyterians
We, members of the Board of Directors of the Presbyterian Lay Committee, are deeply grieved by the action of the 214th (2002) General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA) that removed any significant moral restrictions from killing babies who could otherwise live outside the womb.
The official stance of the denomination now permits, for almost any reason, infanticide by the tragic and gruesome process known as “partial-birth abortion.” Condoning such a procedure is a catastrophic moral failure that rivals the Old Testament sins of Israel as it left the Law of God and adopted the pagan practices of its neighbors.
We strongly condemn our denomination’s failure to cherish and protect the lives of infants. Such callous disregard for the gift of life destroys our witness to the Lord God, author and sustainer of life, whose son Jesus Christ came “that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10: 10b). Our General Assembly’s action separates us from the Christian community worldwide and through the ages. It is an affront to all who are called to be “unashamed of the gospel.”
We urge all Presbyterians who share our convictions in this matter to express their concerns to their pastors and sessions, and to take appropriate actions in their presbyteries to elect commissioners to the 215th General Assembly who will restore Biblical integrity to the policies of the Presbyterian Church (USA).
To the greater glory of God.