Posted on 10/02/2009 4:46:22 PM PDT by wagglebee
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- A coalition of mainline Protestant churches have authored a letter to members of Congress asking them to make certain the health care bills they are considering contain taxpayer funding for abortions. The letter comes from a group of churches that have long advocated the pro-abortion position.
Under the umbrella of the Religious Institute, the church denominations and more than 1,100 pastors and church staff from the denominations endorsed the letter.
The letter calls abortion a “morally justifiable decision” and opposed any amendments to the House and Senate bills, which current contain massive abortion funding, to strike that taxpayer-financing.
“Already, federal policy unfairly prevents low-income women and federal employees from receiving subsidized [abortions]," Rev. Debra W. Haffner, executive director of the Religious Institute complained.
The letter added that she doesn't want more abortion funding bans in place and complained that additional "restrictions" on abortion funding constitute a "serious moral injustice.”
The denominations endorsing the letter include the American Baptist Churches, Church of the Brethren, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), United Church of Christ, and the United Methodist Church, and others.
"We affirm women as moral agents who have the capacity, right and responsibility to make the decision as to whether or not abortion is justified in their specific circumstances," the letter says.
The Jewish Reconstructionist Federation, Unitarian Universalist Association, and United Synagogue for Conservative Judaism also endorsed the pro-abortion letter.
The Religious Institute claims to represent 4,800 clergy and 40 Christian denominations.
Some of the signers to the letter include: Fr. Dr. Luis Barrios, Chair of Latin American and Latina/o Studies, John Jay College of Criminal Justice - CUNY; Rabbi Dan Ehrenkrantz, President, Reconstructionist Rabbinical College; Rev. Dr. Yvette Flunder, Bishop, The Fellowship; The Rev. Dr. Paula Gravelle, Chair, Clergy Action Board; and Rev. Dr. Larry Greenfield, Executive Minister, American Baptist Churches of Metro Chicago.
They also include Rabbi Peter Knobel, Former President, Central Conference of American Rabbis; Rev. Dr. Pamela Lightsey, Dean, Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary; Rev. Michael Livingston, Executive Director, International Council of Community Churches; Rev. Dr. Deborah Mullen, Director, Center for African American Ministry and Black Church Studies, McCormick Theological Seminary; Dr. Sylvia Rhue, Interim Executive Director, National Black Justice Coalition; and Rev. Dr. William Stayton, Professor of Sexuality and Religion, Morehouse School of Medicine
Matthew 7
15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
***They’re the people who fund “social justice” scams like ACORN, and choose fish over people.
We not only need to take our country back. We also need to take back our Churches.***
Applause, sort of. Jesus has established His Church. If we repudiated all the churches of men, then the efforts of the true believers would concentrate on the Church. There would be, I suspect, very little need at that point to take the Church back.
Every man interpreting scripture for himself sure is going well.
Why are you pessimistic about your Protestant brethren holding the line and we are a lot more than a handful? Many of us are optimistic about you and other conservative Catholics standing together with us on moral issues like abortion. Can’t you share that optimism with us? We need to remember that God is in control. God bless.
Disgrace; ping.
Maybe Harold Camping is right.
NAsbU Matthew 7:22 "Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord,shalom b'SHEM Yah'shua HaMashiach
did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons,
and in Your name perform many miracles?'NAsbU John 14:15 "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.
***Why are you pessimistic about your Protestant brethren holding the line and we are a lot more than a handful?***
I sometimes despair when I look at articles like this, which are absolutely correct and completely in context. What percentage of Protestant brethren are represented by this coalition?
***Many of us are optimistic about you and other conservative Catholics standing together with us on moral issues like abortion. Can’t you share that optimism with us? ***
Much appreciated. Yet, this article is representative of the state of what we see as the Protestant condition today. Yes, there are some conservative groups, but remember that all of these were former conservative groups and all of them were anti abortion; all of them did not ordain women or have them preach from the pulpit; and all of them did not permit homosexual marriage or condone homosexual activity. From our vantage point, it is almost like watching dominos fall.
***We need to remember that God is in control. ***
Certainly, of His Creation. Individual men and individual groups however, have the same freedom to march towards either heaven or hell.
***God bless.***
Much appreciated; may God bless you as well. His blessings are needed now more than ever.
You’re right.
They’re American Baptists, not independent Baptists or fundamental Baptists. They’re the liberal branch. Our church was part of the American Baptist Association of this area before our pastor came. We are now non-denominational. When we made the change, we grew so fast we had to put on two additions!
Thank you, Upbeat. There are MANY reformers who have not given themselves to apostasy.
The misguided hierarchy of these denominations doesn’t necessarily represent the membership of many of these churches. There are conservative practicing and believing Christians in each of these denominations. Shame on the leadership which is unworthy of the name Christ. I’m thinking of the National Council of Churches as well. In the last election, while there was some erosion among my fellow Evangelicals, I believe the majority still voted against Obama as did nearly half of your fellow Catholics. We need to pray hard for each of these groups. If we don’t stand together on that with which we agree we will fail.
I think God is telling me to fast and pray.
***The misguided hierarchy of these denominations doesn’t necessarily represent the membership of many of these churches. There are conservative practicing and believing Christians in each of these denominations. ***
Then they must DO something about it. It is not enough for good Christians to loll back and allow their sects to be hijacked or diverted.
***Shame on the leadership which is unworthy of the name Christ.***
Shame is not enough. Planned Parenthood is very strong, for instance, much stronger than many Christian groups.
***In the last election, while there was some erosion among my fellow Evangelicals, I believe the majority still voted against Obama as did nearly half of your fellow Catholics. We need to pray hard for each of these groups. If we don’t stand together on that with which we agree we will fail.***
Agreed. Legal Catholic voters voted in a majority against Obama. Unfortunately, the illegals, still mostly Catholic, have been mesmerized and lied to by the Democrats to the point where they voted overwhelmingly for Obama. Same goes for illegal Chinese and Africans.
I live not too far from Chicago, where the voters are instructed to vote early and vote often...
Many have already done something. They have voted with their feet. Soon their leaders will notice that they are marching in a parade with no one following them. Planned Parenthood may be strong but they don’t have a prayer. We do.
The “Brethren” one really hurts. They, the Quakers, and the Mennos are called the “historic peace churches,” lots of them are pacifists. But the Quakers officially endorsed abortion decades ago, long before Roe; the Brethren (or at least their leaders) have capitulated. Does that leave Mennonites as the only “peace church” that doesn’t officially insist on the right to kill little babies?
And they wonder why people are leaving the church. This is the reason.
Hey Mark, I know stories like this can be disheartening. This is real 10,000 BC witchcult stuff. But these folks aren’t the real Protestants, who are Christians. They are wackaddoo losers who are trying to bring back paganistic ritual sacrifice from the dawn of prehistory and soil the names of good Christian organizations.
Freegards
***Many have already done something. They have voted with their feet. Soon their leaders will notice that they are marching in a parade with no one following them. Planned Parenthood may be strong but they don’t have a prayer. We do.***
I fear that those who have voted with their feet have gone to the megachurches; the Joel Osteens and the Rick Warrens of the theological world. I’m not certain that prayer will have any effect upon that bunch. I do not believe in their Christianity and I do not believe that they follow Christ.
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