COLUMBUS, OH: Episcopal Church still pro-abortion
By Hans Zeiger
VirtueOnline Correspondent
www.virtueonline.org
COLUMBUS, OHIO (6/19/06)-The 75th General Convention of the Episcopal Church appears poised to reject a measure that would remove the denomination from membership in a pro-abortion lobby. The Social and Urban Affairs Committee displayed no sign of giving the resolution a floor hearing after the Diocese of Tennessee called on the Executive Council to end its ties with the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice.
"I am here to question the Episcopal Church's decision," the Rev. D. Lorne Coyle of the Diocese of Central Florida, who proposed resolution, number D063, told the committee. Coyle says that the decision of the Episcopal Church's Executive Council to renew an affiliation with the RCRC in January of this year "was necessarily provocative." In a time when the Episcopal Church is divided internally and faces the alienation of the global Anglican Communion, the church's support for abortion "seems to drive a wedge in those relationships."
No Episcopal General Convention has ever granted approval of RCRC membership, and the Executive Council has simply reaffirmed the relationship from year to year. A previous attempt to disassociate the Episcopal Church from RCRC failed at the convention in 2003.
The Episcopal Church was a support base for the pro-abortion movement during the decade before the U.S. Supreme Court decided Roe v. Wade. In response to growing agitation for abortion in the Episcopal Church, pro-life Episcopalians founded Noel for Life in 1966 "to advocate the sanctity of human life from conception to natural death in the Church and society."
Noel President Georgette Forney addressed the Social and Urban Affairs Committee on Monday, urging them to move the church away from the agenda of the RCRC.
"The decision by the Episcopal Church to join the RCRC is an example of personal agendas seeking to control the church's position," said Forney, pointing out that the official positions of the church conflict with some RCRC positions.
For example, a document prepared by the RCRC entitled "Considering Abortion? Clarifying what you Believe" declares, "You, and no one else, are 'called' to figure out what this unwanted pregnancy is about. And you are to do it without guilt or shame..." The document adds, "You are to claim your godlike, God-given role in creation by saying yes or no, secure in the knowledge that whatever you decide, after having honestly sought what is right, God will bless."
Yet Forney pointed out that Lambeth 1.10 affirms the principle abstinence outside of marriage. And the Episcopal Church resolved in 1994 that Episcopalians should consider abortion only after prayer, deliberation, and the counsel of the church. Yet the RCRC encourages "women to seek the truth within themselves rather than God, the Scriptures, and the counsel of church advisors," said Shiela Bracken, administrative director of Noel.
But such arguments were insufficient evidence for the pro-life position to several witnesses at the Monday hearing. "I wish I knew what Biblical truth the previous speaker was talking about, because I have several papers written by clergy and Biblical scholars talking [favorably] about the subject [of abortion]," said John Vanderstar, a layman from the Diocese of Washington.
The Rev. Canon Elizabeth Keaton of the Diocese of Newark alleged that the conservative Institute on Religion and Democracy was a funding source for both Noel and the American Anglican Council, paraphrasing thereafter Martin Niemoller's quote about the Nazi termination of minority groups: "First they came for the homosexuals, and then they came to erode the rights of women."
Abortion may not be in favored by local churches, Keaton suggested, but "We are deputized to follow the Holy Spirit, not the wishes of the folks back home."
If the folks back home didn't have a say on the Social and Urban Affairs Committee, perhaps they could have a say on the floor of the Convention Houses. Knowing that the Social and Urban Affairs Committee leans far to the Left on most issues, advocates for the Resolution D063 called on the committee to simply pass the resolution so that the convention can discuss it openly. "Get it to the floor where we can talk about things like that as a whole church," said Robert Hanna of the Diocese of San Joaquin.
It's about as likely to happen as the Episcopal Church reaching its 20/20 goals of doubling church attendance by 2020.
As one committee has reported to the General Convention, "The Episcopal Church has the lowest birth rate and highest mean age of any mainline denomination." And the statistical decline of the Episcopal Church will probably continue so long as the choice for death outweighs the choice for life.
For now, the church simply doesn't listen to the pro-life side of the debate, Shiela Bracken told VirtueOnline after the hearing. "It's a horse and pony show...They're tired and ambivalent and they don't care."
Georgette Forney told VirtueOnline that the RCRC's "malicious publications and conferences" make clear "this church's strong support for choosing the right to abort, not the choice of women. It really sends a strong message to pro-life women that their voices are not welcome in this church."
But to those who insist on abortion, the "welcome" to the Episcopal Church cannot last forever.
END
| Poster | Thread |
|---|---|
| yaya2 | Posted: 2006/6/19 21:50 Updated: 2006/6/19 21:50 |
Not too shy to talk   Joined: 2006/6/12 From: Arkansas Posts: 29 |
 Re: COLUMBUS, OH: Episcopal Church still pro-abortionThe "folks back home" should be praying for Elizabeth Keaton!! May God forgive her!
It absolutely makes my head spin to think she would advocate a woman's desire over what God has commanded ........ but then perhaps she must worship a different God than I!! Thou shall not KILL!! I am sickened with the evil slime that is seeping throughout this convention.........God forgive us that we ever had love for this church!! I beg His forgiveness that I told my children this was a Godly church and to respect its teachings..........I just apologized to each of them and I pray God can help them forgive me for the stupidity that I showed in asking them to trust this church! |
| Truthseekr | Posted: 2006/6/19 22:13 Updated: 2006/6/19 22:13 |
Home away from home  Joined: 2005/9/14 From: terra firma ................ ( just a pilgrim passing thru ) Posts: 784 |
Re: COLUMBUS, OH: Episcopal Church still pro-abortion Quote:
For example, a document prepared by the RCRC entitled "Considering Abortion? Clarifying what you Believe" declares, "You, and no one else, are 'called' to figure out what this unwanted pregnancy is about. And you are to do it without guilt or shame..." The document adds, "You are to claim your godlike, God-given role in creation by saying yes or no, secure in the knowledge that whatever you decide, after having honestly sought what is right, God will bless." hmmm can't seem to find any scriptural support for their ecusan position... but there is quite a bit of Holy Scripture about not shedding innocent blood...  |
| Causidicus | Posted: 2006/6/19 22:28 Updated: 2006/6/19 22:29 |
Home away from home Joined: 2005/7/3 From: Posts: 1065 |
Re: COLUMBUS, OH: Episcopal Church still pro-abortion Thank you, Lorne Coyle and Georgette Forney, for trying. Thank you for making the ECUSA surrender to the culture of death clear to us all.
As for Elizabeth Keaton's blasphemous statement asserting that the Holy Spirit has lead her to promote abortion: The only fear the fascist abortionists have is of not spouting and supporting the party line. |
| MichaelA | Posted: 2006/6/19 22:39 Updated: 2006/6/19 22:39 |
Home away from home Joined: 2006/5/29 From: Posts: 869 |
Re: COLUMBUS, OH: Episcopal Church still pro-abortion It is quite ghastly. On the other hand, ECUSA has been quietly doing this for decades. So on the positive side, at least they are finally being called to account for this, because it gives other Anglican Primates one more trigger for excommunication.
It is very important that we tell other Anglicans about these things. The Devil thrives on denying information and working behind the scenes. |
| Cennydd | Posted: 2006/6/19 23:05 Updated: 2006/6/19 23:06 |
Home away from home  Joined: 2005/10/30 From: Los Banos, CA, Anglican Diocese of San Joaquin Posts: 6684 |
Re: COLUMBUS, OH: Episcopal Church still pro-abortion I have this to say to the Rev. Ms Keaton: NO woman has the right to MURDER her unborn child! NONE, get it? Only God has the right to take human life, and NOWHERE in the Bible have I read ANYTHING which says otherwise!! Human life is sacred, and YOU as a clergyperson have the responsibility of defending that life! And what do you do? You tell women that they have the right to KILL that life! Who made you God, lady?
 Cennydd |
| artistree | Posted: 2006/6/20 1:20 Updated: 2006/6/20 1:20 |
Home away from home  Joined: 2006/2/16 From: Lake Tomahawk Wisconsin Posts: 315 |
Re: COLUMBUS, OH: Episcopal Church still pro-abortion The ECUSA is so divorced from Scripture/Tradition/Reason that it has truly become the Church of Death. I wonder if it even realises that it has aborted itselt from the Word of Life and is now a dead child outside the walls of the heavenly Kingdom.
"You shall not kill the child by obtaining an abortion. Nor again shall you destroy him after he is born." (The Epistle of Barnabas) "You shall not murder a child by abortion nor kill one who has been born. " (The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles-Didache) "You shall not slay your child by causing Abortion, nor kill the baby that is born. For every thing that is shaped and has received a soul from God, if it is slain, shall be avenged, as being unjustly destroyed." Apostolic Constitutions |
| pushnpaper | Posted: 2006/6/20 1:28 Updated: 2006/6/20 1:28 |
Quite a regular   Joined: 2004/2/6 From: TX Posts: 64 |
Re: COLUMBUS, OH: Episcopal Church still pro-abortion "Abortion may not be in favored by local churches," Keaton suggested, but "We are deputized to follow the Holy Spirit, not the wishes of the folks back home."
And the Holy Spirit tells women to kill their precious pre-born children? No. Maybe some demonic spirit, some spirit of death and destruction, some evil spirit from the pit of hell, but not the Holy Spirit which Jesus breathed on his disciples. Not the promised Holy Spirit which filled them on the day of Pentecost and strengthened them to spread the Good News. Not the Holy Spirit who empowers us today. The Bible tells us to "grieve not the Holy Spirit." I am sure that one of the things that causes our Lord to grieve is the massive, ongoing slaughter of the holy innocents. Some of these people know very well what they are doing and I pray justice may be done, but may God forgive those who still don't know or understand. |
| DeaconC | Posted: 2006/6/20 1:43 Updated: 2006/6/20 1:43 |
Not too shy to talk Joined: 2006/6/7 From: Middle Haddam, CT Posts: 35 |
Re: COLUMBUS, OH: Episcopal Church still pro-abortion Quote:
Abortion may not be in favored by local churches, Keaton suggested, but "We are deputized to follow the Holy Spirit, not the wishes of the folks back home." This is NOT the Holy Spirit, but that of Molech. They continue to sacrifice the innocents of God to the fires of false Gods - individual freedom for all women except those in the womb. Quote: As one committee has reported to the General Convention, "The Episcopal Church has the lowest birth rate and highest mean age of any mainline denomination." And the statistical decline of the Episcopal Church will probably continue so long as the choice for death outweighs the choice for life. Perhaps they will die out quickly... |
| DeaconC | Posted: 2006/6/20 1:47 Updated: 2006/6/20 1:47 |
Not too shy to talk Joined: 2006/6/7 From: Middle Haddam, CT Posts: 35 |
Re: COLUMBUS, OH: Episcopal Church still pro-abortion Cennydd,
She was made god by the rank and file ECUSA clergy and laity. The clergy by allowing her to have her ordination so that she could feel like and equal by ripping down the supposed patriarchal church, and the laity by staying in the church lending creedance to it and an air of legitimacy that it did not deserve. Had they left the church long ago, it would be an empty hulk and the folks that would have left would be well situated in a solid Christian church and wouldn't have the stomach churning as they watch the heathen tear down the altars to make room for goddess worship... |
| Caroll | Posted: 2006/6/20 2:37 Updated: 2006/6/20 2:40 |
Home away from home Joined: 2005/2/22 From: Posts: 289 |
Re: COLUMBUS, OH: Episcopal Church still pro-abortion Their stand on abortion is one of the reasons I left ECUSA in Oct 2004. I found this picture on ECUSA’s website while I was doing a search on the wiccan liturgy which was also on the website. That was Saturday and Sunday I was in an Anglican church which had just pulled out of the diocese earlier in the month. I have not looked back except to miss the many gifts and memorials that grace the church I left.
For some reason the picture won't post, but you can go to http://www.episcopalchurch.org/41685_37993_ENG_HTM.htmand see Episcopalians show support for reproductive freedom at march By Matthew Davies and Maureen Shea ENS 042704-1 Tuesday, April 27, 2004 |
| fgoodwin | Posted: 2006/6/20 2:55 Updated: 2006/6/20 2:55 |
Not too shy to talk  Joined: 2004/3/4 From: Diocese of West Texas Posts: 25 |
Re: COLUMBUS, OH: Episcopal Church still pro-abortion Mainline churches support abortion and are losing members.
Evangelical churches oppose abortion and are growing. We in the Episcopal Church are killing off our future, whereas conservative churches are nurturing their future. |
| C_Caldwell | Posted: 2006/6/20 3:14 Updated: 2006/6/20 3:14 |
Not too shy to talk Joined: 2005/1/23 From: Fayetteville, NC Posts: 29 |
Re: COLUMBUS, OH: Episcopal Church still pro-abortion Canons from Ecumenical Councils on Abortion or Making Drugs for Abortion
Canon 21 of The Council of Ancyra punishes a woman by 10 years of penance who commits adultery and destroys what they have conceived, or makes drugs for abortion. [1] Canon 91 of the Council of Trullo states: “THOSE who give drugs for procuring abortion, and those who receive poisons to kill the fetus, are subjected to the penalty of murder.” [2] Ancient Epitome Of Canon 91 Whoever gives or receives medicine to produce abortion is a homicide. See Canon XXI. of Ancyra, and Canon II. of St. Basil; to wit, “She who purposely destroys the fetus, shall suffer the punishment of murder. And we pay no attention to the subtle distinction as to whether the fetus was formed or unformed. And by this not only is justice satisfied for the child that should have been born, but also for her who prepared for herself the snares, since the women very often die who make such experiments.” [3] Canon 8 of St. Basil: “He that kills another with a sword, or hurls an axe at his own wife and kills her, is guilty of willful murder; not he who throws a stone at a dog, and undesignedly kills a man, or who corrects one with a rod, or scourge, in order to reform him, or who kills a man in his own defense, when he only designed to hurt him. But the man, or woman, is a murderer that gives a philtrum, if the man that takes it die upon it; so are they who take medicines to procure abortion; and so are they who kill on the highway, and rapparees.” [4] Canon 65 of St. Basil refers to those who concoct abortificants: “He that confesses conjuration, or pharmacy, shall do penance as long as a murderer.” [5] [1] Henry R. Percival, Canon 21 of “The Canons of the Council Of Ancyra”, The First Ecumenical Council, in The Seven Ecumenical Councils of the Undivided Church: Their Canons and Dogmatic Decrees (page 187). The Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Second Series, Volume 14, edited by Philip Schaff. The Master Christian Library, Version 5, AGES Software (1997) [2] Henry R. Percival, Canon 91 of “The Canons of the Council of Trullo” in “The Quinisext Council, A.D. 692 ”, of “The Sixth Ecummenical Council ”, in The Seven Ecumenical Councils of the Undivided Church: Their Canons and Dogmatic Decrees (page 768). The Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Second Series, Volume 14, edited by Philip Schaff. The Master Christian Library, Version 5, AGES Software (1997) [3] Henry R. Percival, “ Ancient Epitome of Canon 91” , in Notes on Canon 91 of “The Canons of the Council of Trullo ” in “ The Quinisext Council, A.D. 692 ”, of “The Sixth Ecummenical Council ”, in The Seven Ecumenical Councils of the Undivided Church: Their Canons and Dogmatic Decrees (page 768). The Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Second Series, Volume 14, edited by Philip Schaff. The Master Christian Library, Version 5, AGES Software (1997) [4] Henry R. Percival, Canon 8 of “The First Canonical Epistle of Our Holy Father Basil, Archbishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia to Amphilochius, Bishop of Iconium ”, in “Appendix: Containing Canons and Rulings Not having Conciliar Origin but Approved by Name in Canon II of the Synod in Trullo ”, (page 1135). The Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Second Series, Volume 14, edited by Philip Schaff. The Master Christian Library, Version 5, AGES Software (1997) [5] Henry R. Percival, Canon 65 of “The First Canonical Epistle of Our Holy Father Basil, Archbishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia to Amphilochius, Bishop of Iconium ”, in “Appendix: Containing Canons and Rulings Not having Conciliar Origin but Approved by Name in Canon II of the Synod in Trullo ”, (page 1147). The Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Second Series, Volume 14, edited by Philip Schaff. The Master Christian Library, Version 5, AGES Software (1997) |
| Reactionar | Posted: 2006/6/20 15:17 Updated: 2006/6/20 15:17 |
Just popping in  Joined: 2006/6/20 From: Posts: 13 |
Re: COLUMBUS, OH: Episcopal Church still pro-abortion Carroll,
The picture at the URL pretty much says it all: the ECUSA is the redoubt of aging Baby Boomer radicals, agitating for the cultural Marxism of their youth. |
| DaHummels | Posted: 2006/6/20 16:55 Updated: 2006/6/20 16:55 |
Not too shy to talk Joined: 2005/5/24 From: Posts: 23 |
Re: COLUMBUS, OH: Episcopal Church still pro-abortion As an orthodox Lutheran, I find myself bruxing at Kaeton's (correct spelling) deliberate perversion of Martin Niemoller's quote.
I also find it interesting that someone who lists her female partner in ECUSA website would be so militantly pro-death. If homosexuality is not a choice, but is genetic as many wish to claim, does she realize the consequences? In a country in which 3/4+ of infants conceived with Down's Syndrome are not born, does she think that many folks will scruple to kill homosexual fetuses? |
| Truthseekr | Posted: 2006/6/21 1:11 Updated: 2006/6/21 1:11 |
Home away from home Joined: 2005/9/14 From: terra firma ................ ( just a pilgrim passing thru ) Posts: 784 |
Re: COLUMBUS, OH: Episcopal Church still pro-abortion Quote:
a document prepared by the RCRC entitled "Considering Abortion? Clarifying what you Believe" declares, "You, and no one else, are 'called' to figure out what this unwanted pregnancy is about. And you are to do it without guilt or shame..." The document adds, "You are to claim your godlike, God-given role in creation by saying yes or no, secure in the knowledge that whatever you decide, after having honestly sought what is right, God will bless." vol folks, sometimes it is good to put the news in context... consider this link, its about an abortion survivor, just an article, no pictures... http://www.family.org/cforum/commentary/a0040927.cfm truthseekr |
| Caroll | Posted: 2006/6/26 8:42 Updated: 2006/6/26 8:42 |
Home away from home Joined: 2005/2/22 From: Posts: 289 |
Re: COLUMBUS, OH: Episcopal Church still pro-abortion Truthseekr,
Thank you for the web site. I had also heard of a survior 20+ years ago who was tossed away and saved by a nurse who witnessed the abortion and saw that the baby was still alive. She too is handicapped. For more on Gianna go to http://www.giannajessen.com/ . Her web site is under construction, but there is a picture there. She is a beautiful young woman and I look forward to when her site is operational. What an exceptional young lady. Carol |
