Can Christians Be Pro-Choice? Yes.

This post has been updated

During the Kerry campaign I encountered a Roman Catholic seminarian protesting the senator's pro-choice position.  That same seminarian posted a comment today on my site asking me to justify my position on abortion (which he termed murder) as a Christian.  I responded by rejecting the premise of his question.  Abortion is not murder and I feel no obligation to justify my Christianity to this seminarian or anyone else based on one single issue.  My guess is that he is a faithful Christian and I demand the same respect regardless of any difference we might have on the issue of abortion.

The official Roman Catholic position on abortion is also a faithful attempt to discern God's will on issues of life.  Many churches, however, have come to a different conclusion than the Roman Catholic church that are just as faithful.  Plenty of Christians are pro-choice.

Click here to read the official pro-choice statements from denominations like the United Church of Christ, United Methodist Church, Episcopal Church, Presbyterian Church USA, American Baptist Church, and others.

Dana Christensen is the seminarian who wrote me.  He has a blog that he used to promote George W. Bush's campaign.  Visit it and you'll quickly see a very different theology than the one promoted here.  That's just fine.  I suspect there are times we can learn from each other if we begin from a place of respect. 

No one - not even pro-choice advocates like myself - want abortions to occur.  They should be safe, legal and rare.  That makes Christensen's support of President Bush ironic.  It turns out that abortions have actually increased under Bush's leadership.  If you want less abortions we need to return to the social policies of the Clinton / Gore years.

Keep in mind that not all Catholics voted just on the issue of abortion.  The Catholic vote was nearly split.  Many Catholic leaders also spoke out against those who demanded that Catholics vote on just this one issue.  Those good folks deserve our respect and thanks.  The majority of religious people in America are pro-choice.  Don't be fooled by rhetoric that tells you otherwise.

UPDATE:  Here are some resources from the RCRC that might be helpful.

Christian Perspective

As Christians, who strive to follow Jesus, we can and must be both compassionate and pro-choice. 

Jewish Perspective

When we as Jews advocate for reproductive freedom, we are pursuing justice for women and seeking peace among the diverse religious communities of this country. 

We're Pro-Choice Because Of Our Faith

Remarks delivered by Reverend Carlton W. Veazey, Pres. and CEO, Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, at the March for Women’s Lives in Washington, D.C., Sunday, April 25, 2004.

We're Pro-Choice Because We Have A Vision

The Reverend Dr. Katherine Hancock Ragsdale, former chair of the Coalition board, told the 1 million-plus pro-choice marchers that clergy stand with them—“not in spite of our faith but because of it.” 

"Hard Choices"

By Reverend Barbara Gerlach, First Congregational United Church of Christ, Washington D.C.

For more information visit the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice.

Comments

[Athanasius]

A few questions arise from your answer to Rev. Christensen.

1) If abortion is not the killing of a child, what is it that is being killed?

2) If there is no moral harm done in abortion, why is it preferable that it be "safe, legal, and rare"?

3) What private or governmental actions do you support that would make abortion "rare" (and please note that I don't say "rarer" deliberately--over 1 million abortions a year in the Clinton years is hardly rare, whether it's fewer than during the Bush years or not)?

[Convulsion]

I also dispute those who call abortion murder. While I don't know if I would consider myself Pro-Choice I do know what the technical definition of Murder and I don't think the women who go to the clinic are performing abortions with "Malice Aforethought". I think abortion foes lose the strength of their arguments by throwing around words that are not technically applicapable.

I think saying that abortions should be "Safe, Legal and Rare" says anything about abortions being right or wrong. It is just making the argument fewer legal abortions are better than many illegal and dangerous abortions.

I think we could reduce a lot of abortions but giving teenagers more than the "Just Say No" advice when it comes to sex.

[Rev. Mr. Dana Christensen]

Chuck:

Thank you for your respectful comments.

A few more questions:

1. You rejected my premise saying that abortion is not murder but you did not support that claim. Could you give some reasons why you believe that killing a child in the womb is not murder?

2. How would you have the government make abortion rare? The current system obviously does not do that since there are over 4000 children killed daily through abortion...not exactly rare.

Now a comment: You made refence to the fact that various ecclesial communities accept abortion as moral and acceptable. It is my opinion that these ecclesial communities, in virtue of the fact that they support abortion rights, are not Christian. No Christian in good conscience can support abortion rights, it's like mixing fire and water...one or the other has to go.

[Chuck Currie]

As long as you claim that only churches that follow your policy on abortion are Christian than we have nothing further to discuss.

[Rev. Mr. Dana Christensen]

You claim that this in "my" policy. I have to correct you on this because it is not my policy, it's God's policy. Wasn't it him who said "Thou shall not kill."

Chuck, there is no rational argument to support your position that one can be at the same time Christian and pro-choice, which I suspect, is why you won't engage in discussion. The only way to come to an answer to this question is to address it, and I challenge you to do that.

[Dwight]

I'm of the thought that not all abortions are the same in terms of moral consequence. There's a difference between a fertilized egg and an 8 month pregnancy.

And this is implicitly recognized, in comparing the partial birth abortion and stem cell research debate. It's also implicit in pro-life literature that has pictures of late term fetuses. They recognize that most folks, including myself, ought to be uneasy if not opposed to abortion in such a context.

So instead of implicit assumptions, let's bring this out to the open. What is the difference? The difference as far as I can tell is one of development, captured in everything from Roe v. Wade to Aquina's idea of ensoulment. Something happens were potentiality moves to actuality.

The line I'd propose (and all of us, whatever stand we have on this issue is drawing some sort of line) is the development of a nervous system, such that it is possible to have experiences, including that of pain. This is the line which we measure death after all (that is the lack of brain wav).

This does not mean that abortion is not morally problematic before hand, or that abortion ought never be legal afterwards (health, life of the woman is key it seems to me). It means that as an overall principle, the question is when is it important for the state to get involve? In this scenario abortion ought to be legal sometimes, sometimes not. That should get me into trouble with both sides. :)

[Chuck Currie]

The good news is that it isn't up to you to decide what God's word is. Nor do you get to decide who real Christians are. And you don't get to set the terms of the debate on the question of faith and abortion.

Feel free to read the statements from the pro-choice churches that I linked to above. You will not agree with any of them, but it might give you a clearer idea what pro-choice Christians think.

[John Wilkins]

my rule of thumb is when the fetus can breath on its own and survive without medical technology when we have a more complicated moral issue. That said, everything I say is contested.

[Mike]

How are posters that say "Kerrysucks.com" a good example of Christianity? Why are the so called "Pro Life" people such huge advocates of capital punishment? I hope my children never see this site nor hear such hipocracy, especially from our church "leaders".

[Athanasius]

Chuck: I wasn't the one who suggested that only churches that were pro-life were Christian. So I presume we do have something to discuss. Care to tackle the questions I asked last night?

[pml]

Chuck — I write as a mother of two young children (boy & girl), a woman who had worked for over 24+ yrs in a "progressive" industry of advertising. I have seen a lot and have heard a lot, especially from women — co-workers, friends, relatives, and strangers. Sir, your compassion isn't a true compassion and anyone who embraces it is only harming our children and society.

I was once "pro-choice" until I "allowed" another woman to illustrate to me her position. It took four months for me to know something in MY THINKING was not consistent. Seven years later and hours of researching, reading and studying this issue and allied issues, I realize I "bought into" a great lie as has many of my female friends. I have seen the train wrecks — I have helped a mother check her daughter into a "mental hospital" due to a nervous breakdown after an abortion. I have seen the "anger" that has developed in many and I have listen to the sad tells of infertility and witness the extremely selfish behavior by both women and men - demanding abortions of their children. Nope — I do believe their is a better way to deal w/children conceived but not wanted and it is not abortion.

How do you and your Church rationalize the teachings of Christ through His apostles which clearly state not to abort or "use poisons" from the witches that harm the children in the womb?

Did it only "apply" to that time period in human history?

From The Didache, I believe it was in the Epistle of Barnabas — "do not fornicate; do not commit adultery; do not practice pederasty; do not let the Word of God escape your lips in the presence of any that are impure. Make not distinction between man and man when correcting anyone's transgression. Be gentle, be quiet; w/trembling treasure the instructions you have received. Love your neighbor more than yourself. .... Do not kill a fetus by abortion, or commit infanticide. .... Do not withdraw your had from your son or your daughter; but from their youth teach them the fear of God. ..."

In another section, "... of men that have no heart for the poor, are not concerned about the oppressed, do not know their Maker; of murderers of children, destroyers of God's image; of men that turn away from the needy, oppress the afflicted, act as counsels for the rich, are unjust judges of the poor ..... Children, may you be preserved from all this!"

Oh our sad, sad times —

Bioethics class visits neonatal facility
http://www.dailyprincetonian.com/archives/2004/11/15/news/11450.shtml

Elyse Graham
Princetonian Staff Writer

+JMJ+

[Jeff]

"Why are the so called "Pro Life" people such huge advocates of capital punishment?"

Now who says that? I personally know very few pro-lifers who are in support of capital punishment in our United States.

Please do not generalize and stereotype because you might know one or two examples of these people. This is what causes prejudice.

[Chuck Currie]

The Roman Catholic Church has a very consistent position on issues of life: they oppose abortion, they oppose capital punishment, and they oppose most military interventions. Why so many of their leaders (Burke, etc) decided to support a candidate for president with one of the biggest death plenty records under his belt and a lust for military action is beyond me. Southern Baptist leaders, on the other hand, often support capital punishment, support the use of the US military in foreign nations, and oppose abortion.

There are places of common ground. If we want to reduce the number of abortions we could do more to 1) teach responsible sex education in our schools 2) provide substantially greater resources for those who wish to adopt 3) and increase federal support for programs designed to life children and families out of poverty. I’ll lift up the United Church of Christ’s sex education program as one good example. We can reduce unwanted pregnancies through education.

[John]

Greetings Chuck,

In the UCC statement on Choice entitled "Reproductive Rights", the statement says:
---
"But Jesus said, "Someone touched me; for I noticed that power had gone out from me." —Luke 8:46

"God has given us life, and life is sacred and good. God has also given us the responsibility to make decisions which reflect a reverence for life in circumstances when conflicting realities are present. Jesus affirmed women as full partners in the faith, capable of making decisions that affect their lives.

"If the full range of options available to women concerning reproductive health are compromised, then women’s moral agency and ability to make decisions consistent with their faith are compromised. Furthermore, poor women should have equal access to full reproductive health services, including abortion and information on family planning."
---
With regards to "a reverence for life", "full partners in the faith", and "moral agency and ability to make decisions consistent with their faith", could you please explain the specific contents and foundational teachings of this faith as it refers to a reference for life?

Tank you,
John

[John]

Greetings,

Let's make that ...

"Thank you."

John

[TM Lutas]

From what I understand, fewer than 10% of abortions are due to issues of health, rape, or incest, the classic "hard cases". The largest category of abortion seems to be one of convenience. If you would agree that convenience is not a legitimate cause for abortion, I think you can make a credible case for being pro-life, more exactly, soft pro-life. If you think that convenience is acceptable cause for abortion, I'd certainly like to hear the theology behind it because I'm not aware of much of anything that is justified in a christian context by being convenient.

[Dwight]

Athanasius...i'd be willing to submit my answer to your first question. I think Chuck addressed the second question: support the full range of options for women, sexual education, child care, etc.

Is it a coincidence that as a society we beat every nation in the western world for abortions per capita and also have a decimated safety net, unlike other nations>?

[Mary]

Did we become "alive" when our nervous
system developed? No, we became a unique
creation as soon as a specific egg and
sperm united. That was my beginning and
yours too. Don't discriminate against me
because I am too little and too young.
Love and Kisses from all developing tiny
humans.

[Athanasius]

Dwight: Have at it. I'm not sure why Chuck doesn't want to tackle it-perhaps he thinks it irrelevant to the issue.

As to the other matter you mentioned, you'll have to define "decimated safety net." With that in hand, I'll be glad to answer your question.

[Chuck Currie]

John,

I'm not sure I fully understand your question. I think the clearest statement of the ones I linked to comes from the United Methodist Social Principles.

Anyone who has ever had an abortion will tell you what a difficult decision it was. I dispute the argument made by TM Lutas (above) that most abortions are done for the sake of convenience. That’s a myth with no factual basis.

Abortion clearly is a moral issue that presents all types of ethical questions. The more we can do to alleviate parents from having to consider that choice the better. That is one reason for good sex education programs and the availability of birth control. My hope is that other people a little closer to this issue will also weigh in with their viewpoints. In the end, I trust women with being able to make the decision as to terminate a pregnancy or not. My hope is it would always be a last resort. There is much we can do to support women and their families in such decisions. Simply calling them and their doctors murders does nothing but cast stones. That isn’t a very Christian thing to do.

Here’s the other side of the coin: what happens to all those kids that are born into poverty? Does our responsibility to them end after birth? Millions of children live in poverty in the US today and go hungry (and those numbers are growing thanks to the Bush economic policies). It is ironic that so many pro-life advocates vote for candidates who will cut programs for kids (i.e. Bush). Bush and his allies in Congress are not advocates for kids.

[Judy Bright]

Chuck,
As you can see by the number of comments, abortion is an emotional issue that brings on heated debate. Maternal/ fetal conflict centers on whose rights override the other. Does the fetus have the right to live even if it puts the mother at extreme risk? Does a women have the right to an abortion because the pregnancy is an inconvenience? People argue over when a fetus becomes a person. People argue about "person" versus "human being."
After considerable personal reflection and counseling of thousands of pregnant women, I have come to the following conclusions:
1. Women rarely choose abortion without a lot of painful soul-searching.
2. Most women who choose abortion do not have long-term emotional problems.
3. This country has failed miserably in providing adequate sex education and family planning to young men and women.
4. As a clinician, it is my responsibility to provide women with all legal options including parenting, adoption and abortion.
5. It is the woman's responsibility to make a decision that is consistant with her moral and religious values.
6. It is my obligation NOT to impose my moral/ religious values on anyone else.

As a nurse-midwife, my greatest pleasure is seeing a family through a joyful pregnancy and birth. I believe abortion is always a tragedy. BUT not all pregnancies are joyful. Contraceptive failure, poor access to birth control, poverty, rape, incest, immaturity, lack of knowledge, lack of family support, and medical complications remain our society's culprits. Until we face up to these issues, unwanted pregnancies will continue, and women will seek abortions- legal or not!

It seems to me that the goals of pro-choice and pro-life groups are really the same- to have loved, wanted, healthy children. If we can work together to "cure" the reasons for abortion, everyone wins. Isn't that in keeping with Christian teachings?
Judy Bright,RN, Certified Nurse-Midwife

[Mary]

I'd rather be homeless, than have my life
ended after conception. Have you checked
out www.abortiontv.com ( the box marked
"yell at us") or pictures?

[Dwight]

Athanasius
I was hoping that my first post might lay out a standard.

Mary
Are you hooking up the life of a person to DNA? I'm not sure I could go with this, since dead humans likewise have DNA. Unless I'm misreading you here.

[Chuck Currie]

Dwight,

I think your comments have been very helpful. Thank you.

CC

[Karl]

If we can use DNA to convict someone of a crime, why can we not use it to save a life? From the moment of conception, a baby has a distinct DNA from his/her mother or father.

Karl