Abortion Is A Blessing
This is from Via Media (via HotAir) and I find it appalling and disgusting that a minister of Christ could ever say this much less think this. This quote comes from the new Dean of the Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge, Katherine Ragsdale. Read it first and I will deconstruct later.
And when a woman becomes pregnant within a loving, supportive, respectful relationship; has every option open to her; decides she does not wish to bear a child; and has access to a safe, affordable abortion – there is not a tragedy in sight — only blessing. The ability to enjoy God’s good gift of sexuality without compromising one’s education, life’s work, or ability to put to use God’s gifts and call is simply blessing.
I can assure you she does not speak for God or for her faith. At least I hope not for her faith. The fallacy, dare I say heresy, can be found in the last sentence.
“The ability to enjoy God’s good gift of sexuality without compromising one’s education, life’s work, or ability to put to use God’s gifts and call is simply blessing.”
The Lord has taught us that love is the answer to any moral question in our lives. Selfless love, not selfish love. Respect for life from conception to its natural end is central to Christ’s message. But beyond that, to even think that it is Christlike, or to claim that God would approve of putting, not just one’s self interest, but material interests ahead of the sacred life of an innocent is beyond comprehension. No person of God would ever make such an argument.
It is one thing to say that you believe abortion is a personal choice. It is quite another to lay it all at God’s table. I wish her well but I would not listen to a single thought of hers on theology. She speaks not the word of God, I can assure you.
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Jim, just took a look at this article and it left me very DISTURBED. How IRONIC this news article would come out as the Christian world is getting ready to head into what is considered the most important week in the Christian calendar year, Holy Week.
No wonder why morality is at an all time low in our country. Here is a divinity school who has installed as its President and Dean an abortion advocate.
"does not wish to bear a child"…Sounds like she's talking about something as trivial as not wanting to wear a blue sweater today. "safe, affordable"…Abortion may be physically safe, but let me assure you it is not mentally/emotionally safe. Affordable? It will cost you more than just the $300. "without compromising one's education, life's work"…All I hear is me, me, me. Abortion IS NOT a blessing…it MOST DEFINITELY IS a tragedy.
Yes…appalling and disgusting and heresy…but unfortunately just another installment of the twisted version of Christianity coming from the national leadership of my faith. Believe me, I know many Episcopalians for whom Ragsdale does not speak. I'd go back to the Methodist church where I was raised, but the leadership there is no different.
Ragsdale's comment is all the more shameful because it involves the killing of innocent babies for the sake of personal convenience. That is the kind of deception that happens when people start trying to make God in their own image.
The Ragsdale sermon has been scrubbed from here but can still be found here within remarks made in Birmingham AL in 2007 at NARAL. You must read the whole thing! The statement concludes:(emphasis added)
I want to thank all of you who protect this blessing – who do this work every day: the health care providers, doctors, nurses, technicians, receptionists, who put your lives on the line to care for others (you are heroes — in my eyes, you are saints); the escorts and the activists; the lobbyists and the clinic defenders; all of you. You’re engaged in holy work.
I looked into this Episcopal Divinity School business and found numerous videos depicting faculty and seminarians deliriously pleased over the Ragsdale appointment as their new dean.The Rev. BK Hipsher's favorite studies concern "feminist liberation theology and other cutting edge alternate theologies." There you go; that pretty much sums up the EDS.
I seem to remember a certain Presidential candidate stating that he wouldn't want to either of his daughters "punished with a baby". I also recall that this same man may be looking for a new minister…