United Church of Christ, Methodist, Episcopal, Presbyterians OK Abortion Funding

Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- A collection of pro-abortion religious groups authored a letter today to members of the Senate that essentially places them on record supporting taxpayer funding of abortions. The letter expresses their opposition to the Nelson amendment, released today, to remove abortion funding from the Senate government-run health care bill.

The Episcopal Church, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), United Church of Christ, and United Methodist Church are the four mainline protestant denominations to sign the letter asking lawmakers to oppose the Nelson amendment.

They are joined by the Disciples Justice Action Center, NA'AMAT USA, the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, a pro-abortion group, The Religious Institute, and the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations.

The groups say their position is that there is a "social and moral obligation to ensure access to" abortions "at every stage in an individual’s life."

"Reforming the health care system in a way that guarantees affordable and accessible [abortion] for all is not simply a good idea—it is necessary for the well-being of all people in our nation," the religious groups wrote.

"Unfortunately, the House-passed version of health reform includes language that imposes significant new restrictions on access to abortion services," the letter incorrectly claims.

The groups call stopping taxpayer funding of abortions "an unfortunate contradiction to the basic guiding principle of health care reform" and a violation of the "moral imperative that unites Americans of many faith traditions."

It identifies the Stupak (and Nelson) amendment as the "selective withdrawal of critical health coverage from women" and "a betrayal of the public good."

"The use of this legislation to advance new restrictions on abortion services that surpass those in current law will serve only to derail this important bill," the pro-abortion denominations claim.

"The Senate bill is already abortion neutral," the falsely claim, adding that it "includes compromise language that maintains current law, prohibiting federal funds from being used to pay for abortion services," even though the language does not do that.

Jewish groups also signed on to the pro-abortion letter, including Jewish Women International, the National Council of Jewish Women, and the Union for Reform Judaism.

The only group that speaks for the United Methodist Church is the General Conference, which meets every four years. It has not supported this action.

The article doesn’t say, but my guess is that it’s the General Board on Church & Society (a church agency which has been infected with liberal ‘Christianity’ for some time) that signed this.

Perhaps Xzins, who is an elder in the UMC over in Ohio, will have something additional to add.

wagglebee:

You ought to know better. Are you responsible for this headline?

Church of Christ, Methodist, Episcopal, Presbyterian Churches OK Abortion Funding

The link has a different headline:

United Church of Christ, Methodist, Episcopal, Presbyterians OK Abortion Funding

________________________________________

Anyone with any sense knows the difference between the Church of Christ and the United Church of Christ.

Mod: Please change and correct the headline ASAP.

Thank you.

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