Posted on 03/30/2002 12:55:54 PM PST by madprof98
The Rev. Monica Corsaro doesn't look like a stereotypical minister. With her choppy blond hair, thick-rimmed hipster glasses and chunky black shoes, the Methodist minister won't even cop to her actual age ("30-something" is all she'll admit) because, she says, she constantly has to fight for respect.
Now this unconventional-looking minister has become a chaplain in what seems, at first blush, to be one of the most unlikeliest of places: Planned Parenthood.
Corsaro was recently appointed Planned Parenthood's chaplain for the state, making her the first full-time, statewide chaplain in the national organization.
As such, she will provide pastoral counseling to patients and staff, act as liaison with the religious community and lobby on issues of reproductive rights. Perhaps more importantly, she will play a pivotal role in the organization's public-relations battle against what its leaders say is a false perception that most religious organizations are opposed to Planned Parenthood.
In fact, despite significant religious opposition by the Catholic Church, for instance, Planned Parenthood has a long history of working with religious organizations, its directors say.
The portrayal of religion's position on women's reproductive health, family planning and the abortion issue has been "distorted because of the heated and very vocal nature of the real extreme anti-choice members of the clergy," said Robert Harkins, executive director of the state organization's network of regional affiliates.
Corsaro's appointment comes at a time when Planned Parenthood leaders say the Bush administration is trying to chip away at women's reproductive rights.
For example, Harkins said, the administration attempted to take away insurance coverage of contraceptives for federal employees, a move blocked by Congress.
The outspoken Corsaro seems suited to such a controversial position. Raised in a liberal Methodist household in Geneseo, Ill., her pivotal moment came while attending Illinois State University. A friend asked her to attend an anti-abortion rally with a conservative Christian group. Meanwhile, other friends were protesting the rally.
Feeling like she didn't fully belong in either group, Corsaro asked herself: "Why can't I be pro-choice and pro-faith?"
"Why am I here with my political friends who can't stand Christianity, and why are my Christian friends on the other side?" [Duh???]
After receiving a master's degree in divinity from the Iliff School of Theology at the University of Denver, she served as associate minister at Audubon Park United Methodist Church in Spokane, where she also chaired the local Planned Parenthood's clergy advisory committee. Most recently, she served as minister of community outreach at University Temple United Methodist Church in Seattle's University District.
In January, Methodist Bishop Elias Galvan appointed Corsaro to the Planned Parenthood chaplaincy. The church is generally considered friendly to the pro-choice position.
Corsaro said she was raised with the belief that God believes in each person's ability to make choices — including choices about one's body.
Most women who have a spiritual crisis at Planned Parenthood have "already made the decision to have an abortion but believe God will send them to hell," Corsaro said. "I try to focus on telling them 'God loves you, too.' " In her counseling, she tries to lead the women to make decisions on their own, without badgering them.
But some abortion opponents say there's no way a Planned Parenthood chaplain can be objective.
"This is a minister who, from the get-go, agrees with Planned Parenthood's philosophy," said Genevieve Wood of the Family Research Council, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit foundation.
"We would encourage women to seek counsel from their own ministers, not just take Planned Parenthood's word for it."
The Family Research Council also takes issue with Planned Parenthood's characterization of having broad-based religious support.
"The Catholic church, the largest Christian denomination in the country, and the Southern Baptist Convention, one of the largest mainline Protestant denominations in the country, are against abortion," Wood said.
But while Corsaro's appointment is the first time Planned Parenthood has established a full-time chaplaincy, it stresses longtime support from religious groups for family planning.
In the 1940s, mainline churches and synagogues played a crucial role in popularizing family planning, said the Rev. Tom Davis, chair of the clergy advisory board for Planned Parenthood Federation of America.
In the 1960s, before abortion became legal, more than 1,000 ministers and rabbis formed an underground railroad of sorts, helping women find safe abortions.
Today, Planned Parenthood has clergy serving on its boards and clergy advisory boards — both nationally and locally. Most affiliates have clergy members who volunteer as chaplains.
"It's important to have someone (on staff) who can speak as a person of faith, speaking from her faith, for people of faith," Corsaro said. "And it's important to have a religious voice for choice."
Religious views on family planning
Dan Maguire, professor of moral theological ethics at Marquette University, will discuss the views of major religions on family planning at 7:30 p.m. April 9 at University of Washington's Kane Hall, Room 220. The talk, which is free, is sponsored by Planned Parenthood of Western Washington, among others. For information: 206-328-7707.
Oddly enough, these are the two that I have the greatest repect for. Moral fortitude?
As Webster's online says, pastor comes from the Latin word for herdsman.
That would make Corsaro a shepherd who leads lambs to the slaughter.
Why can't the Methodists, Episcopalians, etc...?
Oh, that's where the "planned" part of the name comes in.
Speakers Claim God is “Pro-Choice”by Jessica Cantelon Right TurnWith a turn-out of approximately fifty to sixty people in a lecture hall capable of seating seven hundred, the Young Democrats apparently overestimated the interest generated by their event held on May 23rd that was provocatively entitled, “Uniting Reproductive Rights and Religion: Is God Pro-Choice?”
In addition to the Young Democrats of the University of Washington, other groups sponsoring the “multi-faith based” lecture included Vox: Voices for Planned Parenthood, Student Action Network (SAN), and Medical Students for Choice. Several tables outside of the lecture hall provided students with several sources of information regarding abortion and other options for dealing with an “unplanned pregnancy.”....
United Methodist Reverend Monica Corsaro, the other speaker at the event, although not denying the cleverness of the catch-phrase, “Is God Pro-Choice?” nevertheless added that it reflected human arrogance by attempting to place a label on God. Instead, she argued that God is both pro-choice and pro-life.
Corsaro also criticized traditional religious doctrines, declaring, “We’re past third grade theology.” For example, she related her opinion that Noah’s flood was a direct consequence of the Hebrews’ ingratitude toward God for saving them from Egypt, rather than an account of an actual event.
Frowning upon blind acceptance of the Bible at face value, she asserted, “We’re steeped in scripture, but we also know we have reason; we’re allowed to think.” Her main emphasis was God’s persistent forgiveness of an imperfect people.
Although not explicitly addressing the concept of sin, one of Corsaro’s major points was that “God loves you and is compassionate and is there when you make mistakes.” She then suggested that as an intimate decision, abortion is no exception.
The “different perspective” represented by both Bloom and Corsaro was far from unchallenged. In the question-and-answer period following the lecture, the two speakers responded to several counter-arguments posed by members of the audience, many of whom didn’t seem surprised to find the debate revolving around the definition of God. This conflict centered around whether the speaker saw God as being an actual entity with a personal interest in human behavior, or as an “inner voice” without any particular concern with individual decisions.
When confronted with the famous passage in the book of Jeremiah where God says, “And before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee,” Corsaro dismissed it as nothing more than mere poetry and metaphor illustrating God’s great intimacy with His people.
Bloom, on the other hand, interpreted the words to mean that God knew her “potential” self before she was born, as opposed to her actual self. And based on her personal belief that “her God” values an existing life more than a potential life, she believes that abortion is justified on religious ground. Although two police officers were present at the event in order to preserve the peace, order was maintained throughout the lecture and the following debate, with the highest point of tension being a short verbal argument between two individuals on opposite sides of the abortion issue. ...
When confronted with the famous passage in the book of Jeremiah where God says, “And before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee,” Corsaro dismissed it as nothing more than mere poetry and metaphor illustrating God’s great intimacy with His people.
Anyone else see a problem here?
"See, I am setting before you today a BLESSING and a CURSE - the BLESSING if you OBEY the commands of the LORD your GOD that I am giving you today; the CURSE if you DISOBEY the commands of the LORD your GOD and turn from the way that I command you today by following other gods, which you have not known."
It's that simple, blessings or curses from the LORD. Obey or Disobey the LORD GOD. What could be simpler than that!
Webber
"See, I am setting before you today a BLESSING and a CURSE - the BLESSING if you OBEY the commands of the LORD your GOD that I am giving you today; the CURSE if you DISOBEY the commands of the LORD your GOD and turn from the way that I command you today by following other gods, which you have not known."
It's that simple, blessings or curses from the LORD. Obey or Disobey the LORD GOD. What could be simpler than that!
Webber
Why can't I be pro choice and pro faith?
Because Monica, darling, God frowns on torturing and slaughtering the innocent. You must have ditched Theology 101.
The Young Dems and other types who are into so-called reproductive rights have long ago given up caring whether God even exists. It sounds as if the Reverend Babykiller feels that way herself. (I was going to say "thinks that way" but then I remembered that these people are all about feelings--their own feelings only, of course.)
For those who are King James Version Challenged, The Living Translation states it as follows:
"But there were also false prophets in Israel, just as there will be false prophets among you. They will cleverly teach their destructive heresies about God and even turn against their Master who bought them. Theirs will be a swift and terrible end. Many will follow their evil teaching and shameful immorality. And because of them, Christ and his true way will be slandered. In their greed they will make up clever lies to get hold of your money. But God condemned them long ago, and their destruction is on the way."
AMEN!!
The precursor to that was when Antiochus Epiphanes III entered the Temple of Herod and placed an image of himself in the Holy of Holies.
In their greed they will make up clever lies to get hold of your money
whereas the original text is says of you they shall make merchandise--that is, they will make you their slaves, not bilk you out of your money. But I suppose you get that with any translation, just how much depends on the skill and objectivity of the translator.
I'm not sure I'd like to be counseled by a minister who either
Corsaro said: Noah's flood was a direct consequence of the Hebrews' ingratitude toward God for saving them from Egypt,Anyone else see a problem here?
DUH, I think the flood took place just a day or two before the Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt (sarcasm here). I wonder what Bible she's been reading. (probably her Goddess'version)
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