Some Pro-Lifers Praise New Democratic Abortion Platform

By Michelle A. Vu|Christian Post Reporter

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The Democratic Party’s new softer language on abortion received praised from some Christian pro-lifers, who saw the statement as the party’s willingness to find common ground with those against the practice.

While the party’s platform statement still clearly backs a woman’s right to choose an abortion, the new catch is that the party now also stresses abortion reduction through health care, education and “caring adoption programs.”

Joel C. Hunter, a prominent megachurch pastor from Florida, is among those who praised the new statement’s shift towards the center.

"From my perspective as a conservative evangelical, Barack Obama's campaign and the Democratic Party have taken a historic and courageous step toward empowering women for an expanded range of choices and saving babies' lives," said Hunter during a conference call Tuesday, according to The Orlando Sentinel.

The self-described “completely pro-life” registered Republican said now with the party’s new statement, pro-life and traditional Republican voters can feel more at ease supporting presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama knowing that “more lives will be saved than if they had just taken a moral stand hoping to overturn Roe versus Wade.”

Hunter has not endorsed a presidential candidate.

Some centrist evangelicals and Catholics feel the pro-life and Republican Party’s goal of overturning Roe V. Wade, the Supreme Court decision that legalized abortions, has been futile and has not reduced such practice.

Instead, they support initiatives to find common ground between pro-choice and pro-lifers. Reducing abortion rate in America is one of the popular options that have been discussed by both sides.

Chris Korzen, executive director of Catholics United, also welcomed the Democrat’s new abortion language.

But some anti-abortion Christians believe the issue of life is non-negotiable and don’t see anything to celebrate about in the Democratic Party’s new statement.

Tom McClusky, vice-president of government affairs at the Family Research Council, said he doesn’t see any change in the Democrat’s position on abortion, according to Reuters.

Likewise, Orange County Republican Chairman Lew Oliver, said the new wording doesn’t translate to any significant change in the party’s platform.

“I don’t think they’ve changed anything that is fundamental,” Oliver said, according to The Orlando Sentinel.

“That’s all anyone cares about,” he added. “The question about abortion isn’t about finding common ground.”

The abortion issue has longed divided Republicans and Democrats and been a key issue for values voters. Republican presidential candidate John McCain has a consistent anti-abortion Senate record, while Democratic rival Barack Obama strongly backs abortion rights.

The Democratic Party will adopt the new abortion platform statement at the party’s presidential nominating convention in Denver later this month.

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igh »

Sat Aug 16, 2008 8:49 am Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

jjdiogenes wrote:
"Here's my letter to God:

Dear God, Why is there so much war and famine and destruction in the world?

Dear Son, Well, Osama's mother didn't want him and she wanted to have an abortion but she wasn't allowed to. The same thing with Sadam's mother and Adolph's mother as well. Look at how much crime has gone down in the United States since Roe v. Wade. When the Pharisees of your day - the Religious Right - work to outlaw abortion where will you be."

How little you understand the war you are in right now. Yes you are active in this war a soldier who is fighting for his side or cause.
Every man chooses who he will serve, hitler and stalin and Mao, manson and david koresh and jim jones and marshall applewhite. They all chose.
You must decide to reject God's Christ or to serve him. All who hear the message must choose. There is false doctrine every where, men who teach it making disciples to do evil in God's site.
God is real and his love for you is without measure, but he is a Righteous God and will Judge the world on sin. You have to make a complete search for God, and you will find him and understand.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
Jer 29:12 Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.
Jer 29:13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
igh »

Sat Aug 16, 2008 8:33 am Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

jjdiogenes,,
let me first explain the letter to God.
This is a Righteous man who out of a pure heart and love wrote to God, asking why it seems God had not listened to his Prayers.
Let me explain God's reply to his son's (one of our Brethren) letter.

God moves on all Righteous Prayers, this man who wrote to God was Truely a Prayer Warrior and God moved on his Petitions.
God moves in his ways and on his timing, not as we think he should for his ways are wise and good far above our Righteousness and understanding.
God sent help, men and women who would be the answer to the Petitioners Prayer, who would give all he asked of God. But in this age where the murder of children is acceptable, deemed appropriate by our judges and legislatures, executives who in works deny our Lord even though they say they serve him.

It should have pricked the hearts of all who read it, God does help us, but do we help God?
The last line made that perfectly clear:
When all these precious lifes are lost, ones who out of God's love sent to us, when we should be loving them and caring for them, raising them up to God, Where were we when they are being Killed?
How many of God's children are sitting in the bleachers instead of being active to stop this evil of evil's? How many of God's children are giving of time and resources to save just one life? God sends help, how many of those children would have done Great things in Christ name?

Remember Pharoah tried to kill moses when he was but a child, the deliverer. And Herod tried to kill the very Christ when he was born. Even Solomon , did deliver up children to be 'sacrificed' because he married strange women who did help to corrupt him.
Today we have an alter to strange god's, its called abortion, and many do worship this idol and offer up children upon it. Its the same spiritually as in Solomons day.
believer »

Fri Aug 15, 2008 7:14 pm Agree: 1 Disagree: 0

stan and ifeelfine, have either of you heard about Crisis Pregnancy Centers or Christian adoption organizations. CPCs follow-up on the mother and child for one year after the birth of the child, they provide them with various types of parenting classes as well as helping them to get other assistance they may need along the way. They also maintain a list of reputable adoption agencies should the mother decide to use that option and in our area many of the volunteers are members of evangelical churches as well. So evangelical churches and evangelical Christians are doing far more than just voicing their opposition to abortion.
irenaeus »

Fri Aug 15, 2008 1:10 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

ifeelfine72,

"It appears as though many aren't interested in reducing the number of abortions to zero through loving means - they want to outlaw it and make women second class citizens again."

Why does it have to be either/or? Why not reduce the number of abortions BOTH through loving means AND through outlawing abortion? Also, how is outlawing a woman from 'legally' allowing her to kill her baby relegating women to second class citizenship? Are men relegated to second class citizenship if they are not legally allowed to rape women? You clearly have a sanitized view of abortion.
ifeelfine72 »

Fri Aug 15, 2008 8:30 am Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

stanjz: Right on. I am 100% against abortion but agree wholeheartedly with you. It appears as though many aren't interested in reducing the number of abortions to zero through loving means - they want to outlaw it and make women second class citizens again.
jjdiogenes »

Fri Aug 15, 2008 8:26 am Agree: 0 Disagree: 1

Here's my letter to God:

Dear God, Why is there so much war and famine and destruction in the world?

Dear Son, Well, Osama's mother didn't want him and she wanted to have an abortion but she wasn't allowed to. The same thing with Sadam's mother and Adolph's mother as well. Look at how much crime has gone down in the United States since Roe v. Wade. When the Pharisees of your day - the Religious Right - work to outlaw abortion where will you be.

igh: I gave you a thumb's down because your letter is every bit as absurd as the one I just wrote.
bigleu »

Fri Aug 15, 2008 7:50 am Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

with over 3,000 murders (or I mean abortions) daily in the US, this means there will now only be 1,500. what a compromise! how can a pastor actually say this is a good thing!?
stanjz »

Fri Aug 15, 2008 12:26 am Agree: 1 Disagree: 1

Abortion is one issue and the taking of developing lives is done by young women and men of all political parties. The Republican Party has done nothing to lessen the number of lives lost. Seven of the nine Supreme Court justices are Republicans, but the laws stays as it is because it gets the troops fired up every election cycle. They release emails blaming Democrats for the poor choices these young women and men make. Four times as many women at or below the poverty level get abortions than women who make just $29,000. Yet, Republican leaders vote down raising the minimum wage and healthcare for children. Just these two pieces of legislation have the potential to drastically reduce abortions. Also, making something illegal doesn't change people's minds and hearts. God is looking to change people's hearts even more than he is looking to make more laws. Also, there are probably millions of children born to woman today that become wards of their states. The mothers are unfit to care for them, and they don't get an abortion and the state takes them. How much time are my fellow evangelicals spending with these children? What percentage of them spend time with them? I mentored one such child before I became disabled.
LiveRevolutionary »

Thu Aug 14, 2008 8:37 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

Its the shedding of innocent blood, and the bible is full of examples of the shedding of innocent blood. The blood cries out to God. The shedding of innocent blood took place with the slaves in the united states, and President Lincoln agreed by saying that the civil war was a direct result of our injustice against the african americans. what awaits america for this injustice of unborn babies??? Jesus I plead your blood over my sins, and the sins of my nation. God end abortion and send revival to america
SqueakyWheel »

Thu Aug 14, 2008 7:20 pm Agree: 1 Disagree: 0

Democratic Party Maintains Strong Support for Abortion

Some Democrats are claiming their proposed platform is more
life-affirming because it "strongly supports a woman's decision to
have a child."

Life advocates point to another section, which indicates stronger
support for Roe v. Wade than in the past.

Carrie Gordon Earll, senior bioethics analyst for Focus on the Family
Action, said the platform is nothing more than a smoke screen for what
would happen if Sen. Barack Obama is elected.

"No candidate is bound to this language," she said. "In
fact, it's a moot point because Senator Obama has declared that -
once enacted by Congress - he will sign the Freedom of Choice Act,
which will repeal every state, local and federal pro-life law on the
books.

"I don't see the Democratic platform writers talking about that."

The platform language goes before the delegates at the Democratic
National Convention, which begins Aug. 25.
igh »

Thu Aug 14, 2008 5:34 pm Agree: 1 Disagree: 0

OK who gave my 'A letter to God' a thumbs down? It is a little rough but it needs polishing, i just typed it out. Should be clear enough.
Talmid »

Thu Aug 14, 2008 11:26 am Agree: 1 Disagree: 0

Can you say "compromise"? Why would you settle for the crumbs? This is nothing more than the Democratic party's attempt at assuaging those who hold God's point of view regarding life, as a sacred gift from Him. Can anyone actually believe their platform's statement? Would Jesus be impressed at their wishy-washy statement?
verity_blues »

Wed Aug 13, 2008 10:58 pm Agree: 3 Disagree: 6

There can be no compromise for my morality. I find no common ground, period
SqueakyWheel »

Wed Aug 13, 2008 8:07 pm Agree: 4 Disagree: 1

Geniune pro-lifers are not deceived by any pronouncements of compromising pastors or the mere words of a political party platform.

We have adequate discernment to cut through the smoke and mirrors.

"Pro-abortion" is an inadequate term to describe their position.

The proper phrase is "pro-death."
igh »

Wed Aug 13, 2008 8:01 pm Agree: 1 Disagree: 1

A letter to God.

Dear Father , how i have asked for many years for a cure for cancer, and Aids, and Diseases of all kinds. How i have begged night after night for help on Famine and Drought. How i have asked for Righteous leaders to stand up for you and bring our Nation to you and away from UnRighteousness. Why O Lord have you not helped and heard my crys??

Dear Son i have sent help many times, in 1977 i sent one who would one day grow up to be a Doctor and cure all Cancer. But the mother didnt want him, the Precious love i sent in her Womb, and had him killed. Again in 1998 i sent another, Who would be greater than the first and cure both Cancer and Aids and many Diseases, a Woman who's Faith would be Great and do many things in my name. But her mother hated the Child because the Child was seen as a burden and no love was in her heart for her Daughter.

Time and Again i moved on your Prayers and sent help unto you, Famine would have been done away with, new ways to farm would grow enough crops for all the world easily, Drought would have been done away with by purifying salt water , Leaders who in my name would stand on my Sons Word he brought to them, even to giving there lifes when called upon to bring your nation to me.

But when they were being killed where were you?
kevin82 »

Wed Aug 13, 2008 6:01 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

JHS,

You do not seem to understand how our government works. The only way for Roe v Wade (and any supreme court decision) to be overturned is by a 2/3 vote in both the Senate and the House in favor of an amendment to the Constitution prohibiting abortion, and then it needs to be ratified by the states. So far, the Republicans have never had a 2/3 majority in either house, much less in both houses. The more likely scenario for overturning Roe v Wade is for the Supreme Court to pass a decision "modifying" the Roe decision to such an extent that abortion would only be possible in cases of grave threat to the mother's health (which is what pro-lifers want).
kevin82 »

Wed Aug 13, 2008 5:48 pm Agree: 1 Disagree: 1

This is not about finding common ground with the pro-life movement; this is about courting as many votes as possible. This is good ole fashioned politicking -- plain and simple. Abortion either takes human life or it does not; slavery is either right or it is wrong. We compromised on the latter for long enough; why are we compromising on the former?
chicago24 »

Wed Aug 13, 2008 4:56 pm Agree: 1 Disagree: 3

The term "pro abortion" is so inaccurate. While I agree that access to safe, legal abortions needs to (sadly) remain available, I am certainly not "pro" about anyone having an abortion. We need to pump funding in to make adoption more affordable and accessible. It's a shame that hundreds of thousands of children are in foster care.
What's even more appalling is that there are those that want to keep gay couples from adopting these children. Children that heterosexuals could not or would not raise. Talk about an abomination. . . that's one if I ever saw it.
JHS »

Wed Aug 13, 2008 4:29 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

For years now the republican party claims to be prolife, but has done nothing to stop it, and the dems openly catered to the pro abortion crowd, all the while trying to pass bills that are pro middle class family all the while the republicans were selling them down the river. If all you republicans are so worried about abortion why when you complete control of the government til 06 did you not stop it!?
bossmanham »

Wed Aug 13, 2008 4:15 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

Exactly. This is just complete baloney!

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