new york times published a glowing article praising Christian and Jewish pastors who are “blessing” American abortion clinics.
A Baptist minister, a Presbyterian minister, and a Jewish minister walked quietly through an abortion clinic where they “blessed the examination table and its stirrups, boxes of disposable gowns, and cushioned chairs in the recovery room.” Ta. times memo I spoke positively in Friday's article.
The article states that religious leaders “wanted to show through the ritual blessing of the clinic a year ago that religion can be a source of support for abortion rights.”
The Rev. Katie Ze, an ordained Baptist minister, told the staff gathered in the clinic's waiting room, “At your most vulnerable and sometimes painful time, we have come to you for care. You are a blessing to others.”
In this article, three people describe the scissors inserted into the base of the baby's skull, the saline solution that scalded the baby's flesh, and the suction machine used to suction out the dissected body parts, or There is no mention of whether he also blessed the forceps that were used. Tear off the baby's limbs one by one.
During the blessing of the new clinic, 27-year-old Ramsey Monk “brought tears when one of her co-workers expressed her sadness over the repeal of legal abortion in West Virginia,” the article states. .
“When you work in abortion care, you have a target on your back for a variety of reasons,” said Monk, who felt hostility from other members who learned about her work at an abortion clinic. He added that he stopped going to church because of this.
The Rev. Jim Lewis, an Episcopal priest, said he believes his faith calls him to work with “outcasts,” including women who are ashamed of abortion. .
“We have seriously suppressed the true gospel message of caring for people who are experiencing violence,” he said of the stigma surrounding abortion.
Although uncommon, the benefits of abortion clinics have been going on for years. In 2017, more than 20 religious leaders from various faiths gathered to celebrate the opening of Planned Parenthood's new large-scale abortion clinic in Washington, D.C., praising its “sacred work.”
“In almost every message to our employees, we talk about the sacred work we do,” said Dr. Laura Myers, president and CEO of the Family Planning Association of Washington Metropolitan Area. Ta. “This confirms that our work is sacred.”
of event The event was organized by the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice and featured “leaders from various Christian denominations, rabbis, abortion providers, family planning patients, Hindu priests, imams on Skype, visual art, and liturgy.” Dance” participated.
Many Christians participated, raising “progressive voices” against the orthodox Christian understanding that abortion is a sin of murder.
“I've been a Christian longer than I've been an abortion provider,” said Willie Parker, a prominent pro-choice activist. “Women have been led to believe that this is an evil place where there is no God.”
Referring to the choice to abort a child, Parker slammed those who criticize the woman for making a “sacred decision.”
“Our answer to cursing is to bless,” he said.
“Conservatives have a loud voice,” said Christine Wiley, pastor of the Baptist United Church of Christ. “Progressive voices get drowned out, but that doesn’t mean progressive voices don’t exist.”
“Patients express shame, guilt, or fear about how God perceives them,” said Dr. Selina Floyd, Planned Parenthood's medical director. Floyd emphasized the importance of changing perceptions, saying, “Now we can tell our patients that this is a blessed space.”
Floyd said he looks forward to telling his patients that “people of faith support your decisions.”
African-American pastor Christine Wiley links her support for family planning to the historic black struggles in the United States, saying, “African-Americans are used to a sense of adversity and oppression, so this is different. ” she said. “We've been in worse places than this.”
At the blessing ceremony, the group sang “This Little Light of Mine.” This is a hymn taken from Christ's words to his disciples, “You are the light of the world,” and his call to provide light to those around you.
However, they did not sing another hymn inspired by Christ's song. words“Whatever you did to the least of my brothers, you would do it to me.”
