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Christianity Today, March, 2009 |

WHERE WE STAND

Reducing Abortion for Real

The current proposals to lower the abortion rate will only make things worse.

A Christianity Today Editorial | posted 3/16/2009 12:05PM

On January 22, the 36th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, President Obama issued a statement: "While [abortion] is a sensitive and often divisive issue, no matter what our views, we are united in our determination ...

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Dan	Posted: March 28, 2009 7:22 PM

Re: Dr. Affinito "I am prochoice because I am prolife." How tedious. Yeah, yeah, and "War is peace, freedom is slavery, ignorace is strength." I've heard it all before. So, what is your preferred method of killing Baby? Surgical? Medical? Chemical? Orwellian-like you and Pres. Obama expound and moralize about policies and other factors that need consideration, but Baby is concerned with more practical exigencies: dilation and curettage, salt poisoning, D&X, etc. Can't you see: IT IS A BABY!!! YOU DON'T SLICE, DICE, OR BASTE BABIES!! If you were coolly discussing this kind of treatment of babies outside the womb, you would be considered a monster. Somehow the location of Baby (or in Robyn's post, the father of Baby) legalizes, indeed justifies, killing Baby. So what do you say to Baby who is about to be aborted: "hold still, Baby, this won't hurt but a moment?"

Shannon

Posted: March 27, 2009 11:04 PM

"If funding welfare would reduce abortion, we'd support it," says Clarke Forsythe, senior counsel at Americans United for Life. But the data show that welfare benefits have little impact on abortion rates." Gee, so much for compassion for the poor. Seems to me from a biblical standpoint, funding welfare would stand on its own merits, apart from its effect on abortion rates. Nice hypocrisy. And Joe - Obama hasn't been deceiving us for the last eight years. You have.

Virginia

Posted: March 23, 2009 11:22 PM

Before our prayers for our nation can reach heaven, we must repent of the blood of the innocents. The church still slumbers and neglects to light the candles of hope. Character does count, after all. Preventing abortions involves prizing human life as God does; stopping exploitation, neglect, and abuse.It is a spiritual responsibility that takes pro-life all the way from womb to tomb to honor the gift of life, the miracle of birth, and the expectation that children are prepared for the sacrifices demanded by love before they are shoved into the sexual marketplace. Are we stupid or are we evil to treat it as a polictical issue? We have slaughtered 50 million-- our heritage. They must be replaced with aliens of other cultures. A culture of life or a culture of death? That is our choice and we are all accountable.

Rosa	Posted: March 23, 2009 1:48 PM

Would Christ ever condone murder? If a mother's life was in danger would His answer be to kill the unborn baby or look for alternative options and trust His Sovereignty? If other lives would be negatively affected by the birth, would Christ's answer be to kill the unborn baby or expect those "other lives" to grow up, face the consequences of their actions and learn valuable lessons? I think Christ values all life with solutions that don't involve taking the life of an innocent unborn child. That's real love. President Obama is not honoring Christ in his decision re: abortion.

Robyn

Posted: March 22, 2009 1:27 PM


I believe that abortion is the ending of a human life, but I don't think that criminalizing it is a good idea. What does that make me, pro-choice or pro-life? And every rape victim should have access to "emergency contraception." I don't care if it prevents implantation. No woman should be forced to carry the child of her rapist.

Vermilion

Posted: March 22, 2009 11:48 AM

We should pray that men and women's hearts are changed, then they will not have the need to get an abortion. I am not talking about an abortion that is needed in a life and death situation. If men and women's hearts were changed, they would stop having premarital sex. I don't hear too many people talking about one of the real issues, premarital sex. There are also married women who are getting abortions; not just single women, so it all goes back to the hearts of men and women needing to change. I notice that many people tend to demonize the woman but never say anything about the men who get these women pregnant. Where is their responsibility in all this?

Anonymous

Posted: March 21, 2009 1:23 PM


Strange, you are all pro-life just like me, yet what about capital punishment. How striking this is for both groups on each side of the isle, as pro-choice are pro- abortion, yet against capital punishment. Pro-life is just the other way around. Annelies

Ross	Posted: March 20, 2009 10:53 AM

The use of words to package a concept to make it acceptable on the surface and vilify the the opposition has been refined to a high art. Not only are those who crafted this message very talented, they have a spokesman who is a master at presenting the words. Mr. Obama has also stated that the federal government is ready to step in and provide services that private charities currently provide it reduced tax deductions make them unable to function.This would give complete control to the social restructuring plan.

keith

Posted: March 19, 2009 10:22 PM

Katricia, dont know what the President's beliefs are, but unfortunately you are mistaken about his overturning the MC policy. As is becoming the norm for this president, what he says in public is one thing, what happens is quite different. THe president immediately killed the policy dating back to the Reagan administrations that did not allow the US to spread abortion to other countries. He has also increased funding to Planned Parenthood, one of the primary abortion mills. Once again, the proof is in action, not words. in the language of "The Shack" this is a "great sadness".

Louise

Posted: March 19, 2009 4:25 PM

Of course those who listen to Jesus and have the gift of God's Spirit love the unborn. They depend on God to place the love and patience into their hearts to be an accepting and nurturing parent. Since the Way of godliness, the Way of peace, all divine qualities, proceed from Christ to us, they also promote acceptance of the unborn through the knowledge of the Father and His only begotten Son. Christ is the Way, the only Way to holiness in heart, mind and life. Just as Jesus did not work through government to build the Kingdom of God while He was here on earth, so we work only with eternal words of truth from the Father to promote sanctification of humans here on earth. Promote government laws to limit abortion only as a US citizen. Do not promote government laws to limit abortion as a member of God's kingdom. The way of God is not the way of man.

Radiation

Posted: March 19, 2009 11:30 AM

I am sorry, I am yet to read the article, but I am fed up with the Church trusting Politicians and political or legislative solution for life problems. Let me say it loud and clear that such solutions can never work. It may only determine the arena of play. If you legislate against abortion, it will shift from the open to the dark and from the professionals to the quarks. We may even loose more lives as the quarks kill both mother and baby in one single operation. Again, abortion is not a problem, it is only a symptom of a bigger problem that we need to address. It is not politicians that will do it but the Church. It is not laws that will do it, but Christ - through the word of God and the light of the gospel. Remember even God's law produce hypocrites, how about man's. The word of God is powerful .... It is God's instrument for transforming lives. Let the Church everywhere preach the gospel undiluted, living it out also, then light will be dawn and abortion and her sisters will end.

Abigail Taylor

Posted: March 19, 2009 10:37 AM

Killing the unborn baby, is committing murder. No human being even a mother has no right to kill another human. Women who have experienced abortion, have not only suffererd guilt, but are left to live with a traumatic pain all their life, except if they receive God's forgiveness, and never commit that sin again. I dare to say that God's wrath will fall upon those who take it in hand to kill life that they cannot create. God's wrath will fall upon those women who fall for the llies, and who become partaker of another's sin. I pray in the Name of Jesus, that God will do something to stop the murdering of life. Father God,intervene in this situation, to change the minds of those who are supposed to be making responsible and god-like decisions.

Slider

Posted: March 19, 2009 7:07 AM

The election of Barack Obama has been a complete a total sham. The only unity he's had any intention of bringing is to those who agree with his ultra-liberal leftist agenda. Our country will pay dearly for the many missteps of this rogue of a president.The man is a wolf in sheeps clothing and the lot of you who voted for him couldn't see through him. You.ve only just begun to see the depths of his deceit.

Katricia

Posted: March 18, 2009 8:39 PM

I am very pleased to hear President Obama, a fellow Christian, speak so reasonably about abortion. I am very pleased the he overturned the ridiculous Mexico City policy that prevented clinics and counselors from giving information about abortions. President Obamas views are reflective of the views of the majority of Americans. Although I believe that abortion is always a tragedy and that we should work to reduce the number of abortions in our country I hope that abortion will remain safe and legal. I believe that a bigger concern should be the teen pregnancy rate in the US that is now increasing after years of decline. I see many people in my church that are very supportive of teen mothers which is of course a good thing but their main concern seems to be that they are happy that the girl did not have an abortion- no mention that her behavior was wrong in the first place and that she is very ill equipped to raise a child. I disagree with this editorial.

Thomas Aliff

Posted: March 18, 2009 7:22 PM


Sometimes I think a lot of people do not care what laws are passed just so they can get another free hand out or when something happens the government will pay for it or bail them out again.

god lover

Posted: March 18, 2009 4:28 PM

If girls don't want their babies they need to give them up not kill them. If any girl gets pregnant and wants to have an abortion then they need to pay for it not us. We spend way to much money on abortions. If they can't afford it then give them up for adoption. There's people out there that can't have kids that would love to have them. Girls are not thinking about what they are doing till it's to late, so don't kill them and give them up so our taxes payers money can go on helping the economy . If girls do decide to keep there babies and raise them should go to work and take care of them them self's without welfare. Welfare is to help people when needed for people who are trying and not for girls to get on welfare and keep having kids. There should be a law made that stops girls having kids and getting on welfare. Stop free abortions also. If girls have more than one baby and is on welfare then they should have their kids taken from them. We got to put a stop to this and now

Elmau

Posted: March 18, 2009 4:03 PM

American Christendom needs a reality check and should be proactive on the issue of abortion. The US Church down plays fornication and the likes and justifies it under the umbrella of pro-life. The pulpit never speaks out strongly to families and the community, like John the Baptist and Elijah did to address the issues against illicit sex, adultery, rape, sex, porn, extra marital affairs and divorce. Some of these are the symptomatic of the cause for many of the issues surrounding abortion. Our devotion is to the movie culture that infiltrate every aspect of American life and now more than ever. This so called “Right” movment should focus on bringing the American church back to God and seek to increase morality and integrity. The scripture says to pray for all in authority in order that we as Christians may live tranquil and quite lives in all godliness and dignity. Like we prayed for Bush to make the right decisions a true and faithful Christians should be praying for President Obama.

Clarence Cossey

Posted: March 18, 2009 3:06 PM

I appreciate all the cocodile tears for the unborn. My concern is when that baby is 3-4 years old, and the powers that be of government, church, and society say they cannot afford to provide food, clothing, shelther, health care, and education to the child. I see the same thing happening when the baby has become a teenager. Don't we have a continuing responsibility to help with those needs as the baby grows?

LizB	Posted: March 18, 2009 3:03 PM


Is CT really as conservative as the poll options reflect? (Are you involved in pro-life activism? Yes, regularly; Yes, on occasion; No, I am involved in other issues.) How about no, I am not pro-life? Wow, no wonder I don't log on to this website much anymore...

paula shene

Posted: March 18, 2009 12:26 PM

I have not been a Christian all my life but have always been anti abortion. It is murder, period. We need to train our young people in the blessedness of life. Too many of our young and that includes 'Christian' are in depressed states whereby life is a throw away. Getting 'kicks' any which way causes havoc and spawns abortion. We need to reduce to the point of not needing but it starts at home. We need to teach our young that they are precious thus their offspring is too and should be within a marriage but if not, then it is still loved and wanted. There are many reasons one can give for abortion but if it is fixed within one that murder is murder no matter the size, then abortion is not a viable alternative. The mores of my day were just as loose as today...it depends on the individual.I had good reasons to abort my sons and was even urged by doctors to do so.I did not! All are productive citizens of a country that was and still could be great unless we murder our future!

Brian

Posted: March 18, 2009 9:55 AM

If we see a killing of an innocent baby as real as a innocent hanging, we would never talk sbout an acceptable hanging therefore we sould never talk of an acceptble abortion. Although we know God uses our wrong intentions for the right, (Rom.8:28) we must never sin all the more so God's grace may abound! God judgement of us is never with a broad brush but will be specific to us and our hearts. So trying to find a solution to the problem of abortion without constidering the condition of the heart is always incomplete. An abortion recipiant will never forget their abortion date.

Mary M

Posted: March 18, 2009 9:45 AM


But.. your last hopeful paragraph and final sentence completely omit a crucial issue: If the "Freedom of Choice" Act gets through the legislature, and Obama (as he has vowed in the strongest of terms to do) signs it, ALL the boundaries that have been placed on abortion will be eliminated. All the gains of the pro-life movement will be wiped out with one literal stroke of a pen.

Michael

Posted: March 18, 2009 9:14 AM

The common ground must be based on Christ's teachings, in that all life is sacred. Until we over turn this culture of death, this great country will continue it's decline. If we Christians would just get more involved and trust in the Lord, we can overcome these types of trials and tribulations. But if one of us Christians continues to "pick and choose" what God has taught us as what we believe in, then we will continue battling these types of evils.

RITZ	Posted: March 18, 2009 9:12 AM


RITZ President Obama is very gifted at "double speak" He is a true politician. He has an agenda and he is implementing that agenda. He is "fence sitting" and encouraging others to do the same. "There is a way that seems right to a man but in the en it leads to death." Proverbs 14:12

Flipper

Posted: March 18, 2009 9:03 AM


The last president proclaimed to be christian. But his administration kept on closing places, where a pregnant woman could go for help and be educated. A woman who seeks an abortion, needs help!! 1. They have to know a unborn baby is a precious life, and not just a THING. 2. Then offer them the help and education they need! 3. Then tell them that Jesus also loves them!

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