Posted on 01/24/2008 8:01:43 AM PST by NYer
SCHENECTADY -- To commemorate Tuesday's 35th anniversary of the Supreme Court ruling that affirmed a woman's right to an abortion, clergy blessed this city's new Planned Parenthood clinic in a ceremony dubbed "On Sacred Ground."
"Today is more than about the building and about bricks and mortar," Planned Parenthood spokeswoman Linda Scharf said. "It's a blessing to demonstrate the support of the clergy."
Since Jan. 22, 1973, when the high court handed down the landmark Roe vs. Wade decision, two sides of the issue have squared off. Opponents have campaigned to overturn unrestricted abortion laws, while proponents have stood firm for the right to choose.
Tuesday was no different.
Capital Region activists joined voices with their counterparts nationwide to mark the day. In Washington, as every year on the anniversary, the March for Life was held.
In Schenectady, the blessing occurred at the newly constructed 18,000-square-foot building at 1040 State St. that opened in September to replace a facility on Union Street.
"Clergy have long supported Planned Parenthood's mission and believe women are moral decision-makers, and they trust their right to make a personal decision based on their moral beliefs and whether ... we concur ... we still need to respect that decision," Scharf said.
"The clergy were instrumental in getting abortion services legalized in the United States and right here in Schenectady," she added. "I know a member of the clergy who was part of an underground who directed young women to safe abortions before Roe v. Wade."
Kathleen Gallagher of the New York State Catholic Conference called the blessing hypocritical.
"My gut reaction is that it's two-faced," Gallagher said. "For many years abortion proponents have been saying this is not a religious issue, you should keep religion out of this, and now all of a sudden they turn around and decide to bless an abortion clinic to gain respect for a procedure everybody knows is not worthy of respect."
The group also criticized Gov. Eliot Spitzer, noting that although abortions fell nationally to 1.2 million in 2005, the lowest level since 1976, Spitzer has proposed what Gallagher termed radical legislation in New York.
The governor "has acted aggressively to make abortion even more available and common than it already is, while stomping on the rights of religious providers like Catholic hospitals," Gallagher said. "His euphemistically titled 'Reproductive Health and Privacy Protection Act' would raise abortion to the level of a fundamental right, like the freedom of speech, and would therefore prohibit virtually any restrictions at all."
She warned such a bill would "ensure the easy availability of late-term abortions of fully formed infants, even if there was no threat to a woman's physical health."
In a joint statement, Spitzer, Lt. Gov. David Paterson and first lady Silda Wall Spitzer reaffirmed their "commitment that, despite attacks that seek to infringe upon the protections embodied in Roe v. Wade, women in New York will continue to have the right to make their own reproductive health decisions."
Scharf noted New York was ahead of the curve on abortion. Three years before Roe vs. Wade, under Republican Gov. Nelson A. Rockefeller, the state Legislature legalized abortion. The year was 1970, and the action brought women from throughout the country to the state.
Despite the national trend of declining abortions, they increased in four local counties from 2005 to 2006 while statewide they dropped, according to the Health Department.
At Planned Parenthood Mohawk Hudson, an affiliate of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, the Rev. Larry Phillips of Schenectady's Emmanuel-Friedens Church declared the ground "sacred and holy ... where women's voices and stories are welcomed, valued and affirmed; sacred ground where women are treated with dignity, supported in their role as moral decision-makers ... sacred ground where the violent voices of hatred and oppression are quelled."
The minister has been affiliated with Planned Parenthood going back more than 30 years, Scharf said. About three dozen people gathered at the facility, known as the Evelyn & David Sencer Center, to offer prayers during the half-hour ceremony.
The Rev. Abby Norton-Levering led the group in prayers for the center's doctors and staff. "We pray that you will make this a place of safety and give a sense of sanctuary," she said.
Rabbi Matt Cutler of Temple Gates of Heaven blew the shofar as "a renewal of commitment to keep reproductive rights in the hands of women."
The Rev. Bill Levering, senior pastor of First Reformed Church of Schenectady, said the right to privacy is endowed by God.
"There are some decisions that are left to the individual. Even God respects the right of privacy. We make women into children when we say they cannot control their own bodies," Levering said.
Phillips led everyone outside where they laid their hands on the brick and limestone as the minister declared, "This is sacred ground."
So, in this Reverend's mind, the most vile and morally bankrupt of crimes is OK, so long as committed in private?
These are not rleigious leaders.
What clergy? From where? Notice the vague names and non-affiliations for all these great clergy folk:
the Rev. Larry Phillips of Schenectady's Emmanuel-Friedens Church ...The minister has been affiliated with Planned Parenthood going back more than 30 years, Scharf said.
Really? Just out of the goodness of his heart, or is he a paid spokesman with a deceptive title? Where's his congregation? What affiliation are they? Why not state such?
The Rev. Abby Norton-Levering led the group in prayers for the center's doctors and staff.
Who's she? Church? Affiliation? Claim to fame? (mail-order ordination, perhaps?)
Rabbi Matt Cutler of Temple Gates of Heaven
Is this the name of a real congregation? Where? With which Jewish group is he affiliated?
The Rev. Bill Levering, senior pastor of First Reformed Church of Schenectady,
First Reformed Church of what? First Reformed Church of Whatever Rev. Bill Says It Is? What theology does he claim or is a member of?
I know a lot of otherwise Christian people misguidedly support the wholesale slaughter of babies in the womb, but I'm really sick of there being no questions asked of who these "clergy" are and where they're affiliated. Despite so much liberalism in mainstream churches, I find it hard to believe that very many "real" congregations are flocking around these so-called clergy.
Should be Gates of Hell. Burn, baby, burn, rabbit cutler.
"For the children of Judah have done that which is evil in my sight, saith Jehovah: they have set their abominations in the house which is called by my name, to defile it. And they have built the high places of Topheth, which is in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire; which I commanded not, neither came it into my mind." (Jer 7:30-31)
The Rev. Abby Norton-Levering led the group in prayers ....
The Rev. Bill Levering, senior pastor of First Reformed Church of Schenectady
Husband-and-wife mail-order reverends, perhaps? Gimme a break. This hullabaloo over "the clergy" who have "always supported" a woman's right to murder her child, is simply a pathetic attempt to bring respectibility to an atrocity.
Good catch. Check out the bio here:
http://www.levering.net/info.htm
Look towards the bottom in the "Family" section. There's the other "Reverend".
the devil’s blessing ain’t gonna do em any good.
PING!!!
Ichabod!!
Hmmm ... "gates of heaven" where have we heard that before ...
Could it be ... 
clergy blessed this city's new Planned Parenthood clinic in a ceremony dubbed "On Sacred Ground."
Moloch worship.
These are the neo-Malthusians who want to reduce earth’s human population to 200 million.
Back in the day, feminazis would say "If men had abortions they would make it a sacrament." Funny how things turn out.
“The Rev. Bill Levering, senior pastor of First Reformed Church of Schenectady, said the right to privacy is endowed by God.
“There are some decisions that are left to the individual. Even God respects the right of privacy. We make women into children when we say they cannot control their own bodies,” Levering said.”
What a crock. What God said (Exodus 21:22 - 23): “If men struggle with each other and strike a woman with child so that she gives birth prematurely, yet there is no injury, he shall surely be fined as the woman’s husband may demand of him, and he shall pay as the judges decide. But if there is any further injury, then you shall appoint as a penalty life for life”
Bill Levering is deceived and deceiving. God is not mocked. Man is not God.
Proverbs 30:5 & 6: “Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.” Levering is a liar, as well.
Oh man that is tragic. How can we be so blind?
I doubt it’s the same group but may as well be!
And then he throws you into your own private hell.
Egad - that’s harsh. Or as it was written in John 6:
“53 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.
54 Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.
55 For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.
56 He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.
57 As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.
58 This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.
59 These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum.
60 Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?”
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