Uniting Church and Abortion
by Denise Cameron, PLV Secretary
My first reaction to the Melbourne Age newspaper’s headline on the 28th August 1992, "Church backs abortion right" was "Father forgive them, for they no not what they do". My second reaction was to resolve to make sure Victoria’s Uniting Church Synod does know what it is doing when it votes in the next year or two on abortion and euthanasia.
In the publicity which followed the NSW synod’s decision to officially support a woman’s right to choose a legal abortion, Victorian Uniting Church Moderator, Ms Nancy Bomford was viewed on television stating the intention of the Uniting Church to "consult with interested groups and other Churches" before voting in this state.
Pro-Life Victoria must ensure the cause of the unborn child is put articulately and strongly to the synod voters. We have already sought this opportunity in a letter to Ms Bomford.
In a letter published in the Australian, 2nd October 1992, I challenged the NSW Moderator to assure me that the NSW synod had voted in ignorance. I asked what evidence in defence of the unborn’s life had been viewed. Evidence such as 1) Lennart Nilsson’s Time-Life photographic series, which reveals the humanity of the unborn child, 2) documentary evidence such as ‘The Silent Scream" or "Eclipse of Reason", produced by former abortionist Dr Bernard Nathanson, 3) modern ultra-sound photographs or4) the sound recording of an unborn baby’s heart-beat. (The late respected Prime Minister of New Zealand, Norman Kirk, voted against abortion after hearing the latter.)
I also suggested what folly it was to "place the law of Almighty God ‘on trial’ in a human court. Especially when God has warned He is the Judge and Avenger of innocent blood which cries from earth to heaven.
Two contributions to The Age’s Access column demonstrated our society’s slide into insanity. It was hard to believe the editor couldn’t have recognised the absurd irony. Under the heading "Plea for the possums" a child wrote ‘The possum lady came to Blackburn library, she had sad pictures. Please keep your dogs and cats in at night." Immediately following, underneath the heading "A Christian Approach" was written:
"Congratulations to the Uniting Church in NSW for addressing the abortion issue with truth, justice and compassion - a Christian Approach." What madness! The latter contribution was clearly refuted in the Access column several days later by Robert Young of Glen Waverley, who wrote:
"What justice is there in denying their choice to live? What compassion is there in murdering the innocent?" Reprinted is a beautiful letter from Elena Down of North Balwyn. I know all prolifers will identify with her letter. Pro-lifers can encourage the Victorian synod of the Uniting Church not to make the same mistake by writing to:
The Moderator,
Ms Nancy Bomford,
Uniting Church of Victoria,
130 Little Collins Street,
Melbourne, 3000.