Commentary

Warning! Confessing Movement Petition On Abortion May Be Hazardous To Children

If you are concerned for the lives of children yet to be born and if you believe that every life is a gift form God of sacred worth,  then be aware!   The Confessing Movement within the Methodist  church has recommended a petition to General Conference that suggest that rape and incest may seem to justify abortion   and these abortions are "In continuity with past Christian teaching." To assert that rape and incest are justifiable reasons to abort a child and that this is in continuity with past Christian teaching is simply untrue!

Confessing Movement Petition   # 18 Regarding the Social Principles Statement on Abortion

"In continuity with past Christian teaching, we recognize tragic and rare conflicts in which rape, incest, or a direct threat to the physical life of the mother may seem to justify abortion, and in such cases encourage clergy and congregations to pray for and support such mothers and their families."

Psalms 139:13-14, "For thou didst form my inward parts, thou didst knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise thee, for thou art fearful and wonderful. Wonderful are thy works!",  is in continuity with past Christian teaching. The circumstances surrounding our conception, regardless of how tragic they may be, has nothing to do with the fact that God has made us. We  have no right to "unknit" God's wonderful works!

I suggest that everyone:

1. Petition General Conference before the 12-3-99 deadline. Life Watch has a fine petition that makes no exception for rape or incest. Email instructions are available!

2. Write Pat Miller, director of the Confessing Movement Within The United Methodist Church and ask that they reconsider their endorsement of the rape and incest exception to their position on abortion for General Conference 2000.

We should not support petitions that comprise the Truth!

Don Thompson* ( Loving father of an adopted child conceived in rape)
Member Christ UMC Memphis, TN
2118 Laconia Rd.
Somerville, TN 38068-5538
901-550-2904
thompson@cleanweb.net

* Don Thompson's personal testimony