Information v. Abortion

Hat tip to Brotherhank at Lawn Gospel.

Get the story from KBTX.com.

Many pro-life groups have, over the years, called for laws in various states that would require that women considering abortions be shown certain information, told certain things, presented with ultrasounds, accurate scientific information about fetal development, etc..

Whenever this comes up, we’re accused of calling women stupid, of saying that they’re not intelligent enough to inform themselves, and whatever else. It’s patently untrue, of course.

Here’s one of those stories that puts the lie to that counter-argument:

Planned Parenthood Director Leaves, Has Change of Heart

Planned Parenthood has been a part of Abby Johnson’s life for the past eight years; that is until last month, when Abby resigned. Johnson said she realized she wanted to leave, after watching an ultrasound of an abortion procedure.

After she … what?

After she actually watched what she was supporting? After she learned the truth, by being exposed to accurate scientific information?

Abby Johnson is now with the Coalition For Life, which is quite a reversal. This, after seeing an ultrasound of an abortion procedure. After being shown actual, accurate, and honest information, she decided to leave her job, repent of her involvement in the abortion industry, and switch sides so completely that she’s now working with the Coalition For Life. If there’s an opposite of Planned Parenthood, it would be the Coalition For Life.

There’s also a bit of honesty here that Ms. Johnson is exposing. The dirty little secret behind “safe, legal, and rare” and any other malarkey that PP and other pro-choice organizations likes to toss around:

According to Johnson, the non-profit was struggling under the weight of a tough economy, and changing it’s business model from one that pushed prevention, to one that focused on abortion.

“It seemed like maybe that’s not what a lot of people were believing any more because that’s not where the money was. The money wasn’t in family planning, the money wasn’t in prevention, the money was in abortion and so I had a problem with that,” said Johnson.

 

There’s more money in abortion than in pregnancy prevention. This makes sense, if you consider the fee-for-service model. That doesn’t make it right.

Norma McCorvey, the pro-life activist once known as Jane Roe (of Roe v. Wade), has a similar story in her life: once she was made aware of what abortion really did, past the euphemisms and slogans, she couldn’t back it any longer.

Let’s be honest about it: the abortion industry wants to prevent ultrasound and informed consent, certainly parental consent, laws for the same reason that tobacco companies wanted to prevent warning labels, oil companies don’t want to discuss pollution, and clothing retailers don’t want to discuss China’s human rights situations. They’re making money by the lies.

Attacking incivility

Hat tip to PJMiller at Sola Dei Gloria.

Looks like the Interfaith Alliance has jumped into the war on incivility.For Immediate Release
October 21, 2009

Clergy and Faith Leaders Call for Civility

Washington, DC – A group of prominent faith leaders brought together by Rev. Dr. C. Welton Gaddy, President of Interfaith Alliance has released an open letter to other religious leaders, politicians, and pundits calling for civility in public debate and to specifically refrain from using inappropriate references to the holocaust and Nazis. A copy of the letter along with its signers follows.

An open letter to religious leaders, politicians, pundits and the public:

In the last month, we have seen an alarming number of public figures use the Nazis and the Holocaust as metaphors in public debate on issues critical to this country. This development is but the most vile example of the disturbing language that has insinuated itself into our national dialogue. Examples of this divisive and ill-spirited rhetoric include:

-Richard Land, a leader and spokesperson in the Southern Baptist Convention
compared some of the proposed health care reforms to ”what the Nazis did.”
Actually, Land bestowed a “Joseph Mengele Award” on Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel, the president’s chief health-care adviser. After strong criticism, Dr. Land apologized for his comments, though he offered no apology to Dr. Emanuel.

-The Republican National Committee was asked to take down a link to a YouTube video parody where subtitles in a movie portraying Hitler were doctored to convey the impression that Hitler was criticizing the Democrats’ health care proposals.

-Fox News Host Glenn Beck compared the treatment of Fox News by the Obama Administration to the treatment of Jews during the Holocaust

-Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL) referred to the failure to reform the U.S. health care system as a “holocaust.” Grayson later apologized stating that he in no way meant to minimize the Holocaust.

The Holocaust was a tragic event in which the Nazis systematically murdered six million Jews. The Nazi regime that perpetrated this mass genocide was one of the most horrific in world history. There is no place in civil debate for the use of these types of metaphors. Perpetrators of such language harm rather than help both the integrity of the democratic process and the credibility of religious commentary.

We the undersigned faith leaders call on our colleagues in all religious communities as well as elected leaders, commentators, pundits and others engaged in public debate to refrain specifically from using inappropriate Nazi and Holocaust references and, generally, to help restore civility to our national dialogue.

Sincerely,
The Rev. Dr. C. Welton Gaddy
President, Interfaith Alliance

I’ve talked about this before, especially the cheapening of Nazi imagery. Seriously, people, is this what you want to do?

I have been an admirer of Dr. Land, and I’m repulsed by his “Mengele” comment. Dr. Mengele was a monster who performed vile experiments on human beings. Dr. Emanuel is a part of an effort to make health care available universally. One is free to disagree with Dr. Emanuel, but it hardly makes him worthy of comparison to Dr. Mengele.

Glenn Beck’s reference is patently absurd, and I don’t think any honest reader can defend it. Until and unless Pres. Obama orders killings of Fox News officials, staff, and collaborators, to make this comparison is so stupid as barely to need comment.

Rep. Grayson has apologized for his remark, but only for trivializing the Holocaust. Dr. Land, by the way, apologized to the Anti-Defamation League for the same thing. Neither has, to my knowledge, apologized to the people whom they compared to Nazis.

Seriously. It’s time for this to stop.

Is Greed Still a Sin?

Listed as one of the Seven Deadly Sins by the Catholic Church, and listed many times as a sin throughout the Bible, I wonder whether we still consider greed to be a sin.

After all, I’m told, capitalism relies on the greed of business leaders.

First of all, this is a flawed understanding of capitalism.

Second of all, if that was true, then no Christians should support capitalism, right?

So I ask, putting the question simply and plainly: Do we still consider greed to be a sin, or have we made an excuse for it as a culture?

Andrew Schlafly vs. the Bible

Several other bloggers have written great posts about this, and I haven’t until now. I’ve been trying not to do so. I read too much about it today, though, and as my blood boils I have to vent. Andrew Schlafly, the son of Phyllis Schlafly, is the brains behind what might be the most loathsome thing I’ve ever seen: the Corrupt … err, … “Conservative Bible Project.”

Yes, that’s right. Mr. Schlafly is tired of all of those liberal-sounding things in the Bible, and so he’s going to fix it once and for all. Whereas most Christians view the Bible (including legitimate translations) as the Word of God, Mr. Schlafly views it as a rough draft. Some of us wrestle with the Word, pray about its meaning, and try to work out what it means and how we relate parts that seem to conflict. Mr. Schlafly simply wants to remove or reword that which he finds challenging.

Obama vs. Fox

Alright, so I’ll comment on a current event. Fine.

On NPR this afternoon, I was listening to a discussion about the confrontations between President Obama and the Fox News Channel and various charges going back and forth, not the least of which being that Pres. Obama apparently said that Fox is not a real news network.

President Obama seems to have a problem keeping focused on items deserving of Presidential attention. He should not have allowed himself to get into the Harvard professor/Cambridge police situation, and he should not be stooping to get into this muck.

That’s why he has subordinates. If someone on his staff made such a comment as his/her own remark, it would be one thing. For it to come from the President is, well, un-Presidential.

Songs I Love: “The Lemonade Song” by Mitch McVicker

Since you might well not know the song, here it is:

I’ll admit, it’s an acquired taste. It did little for me at first … but once it clicked, I fell in love with this song!

Jim came walkin’ down the road

Singin’ songs and hummin’ on hymn tunes

Though he’d never set foot in a church on Sunday morning

The smile on his face looked kinda outta place

Considerin’ the looks of his shirt and shoes

Made me wonder what kept him going

Spent most of his lonely young days

Working downtown in the sawmill

And a childhood is somethin’ he’s never known

All the extra time he had on his mind

Every now and then his heart would spill

And he’d start singin’ all the way home

Chorus

And he’d sing I, I don’t know much

But I know a Love

And one day I’ll be sittin’ up in heaven on an easy chair

Sippin’ lemonade, love lives there

Round ’bout that time the bells chimed

And the church doors flew open

And a whole herd of saints came runnin’ along Jim’s way

Talkin’ ’bout salvation, hope and love

And everything else they didn’t know about

And when they saw Jim all of that changed

Now it takes a special kind of man

To avoid a confrontation

And everywhere Jimmy looked he had nowhere to go

They started throwin’ out names,

Throwin’ punches, and throwin’ laughter

And when they were through, blood was drippin’ from his nose

Chorus

And he sang I, I’ve heard about blood

I think it stands for Love

And one day I’ll be sittin’ up in heaven on an easy chair

Sippin’ lemonade, loves lives there

Now Jim knew what he had inside of him

And wouldn’t hear nothin’ different

The moral to the story is he just keeps on keepin’ on

Now he ain’t whitewashed,

You won’t find him on the corner prayin’

He just knows his Love and knows his song

Chorus

And he sings I, I got all I want

‘Cause I’ve got my love

And one day I’ll be sittin’ up in heaven on an easy chair

Sippin’ lemonade, love lives there

Yeah, one day I’ll be sittin’ up in heaven on an easy chair

Sippin’ lemonade, love lives there

Yeah, one day I’ll be sittin’ up in heaven on an easy chair

Sippin’ lemonade, love lives there

Yes, I’d like to see Jim in a church. I see profound merit and Biblical obedience in being part of a church community. But look at what the song’s saying. Right here –

And a whole herd of saints came runnin’ along Jim’s way

Talkin’ ’bout salvation, hope and love

And everything else they didn’t know about

Wow. A “herd of saints” talking about the very thing that makes faith mean anything … described as “everything else they didn’t know about.” You see, Jim doesn’t know much, but he knows Love. The herd of saints? They’ve just got religion.

How often does religion get in the way of love? It shouldn’t, but let’s be honest … it does.

Jim loves God and knows that God loves him. He shows that love to others. The herd of saints? There they were, deriding Jim for not being one of them …

Something worth considering.

Life Lessons: Limbaugh and the NFL

I promise, this story is only about Rush Limbaugh as an illustration …

On NPR this morning, I heard a story that Rush Limbaugh is part of a bid to buy a football team, the Rams. This, not surprisingly, has resulted in much controversy. At least one owner has come out and said he’ll vote against Limbaugh (apparently, 24 of the 32 owners have to vote to let him in).  Players were quoted, including — not surprisingly — Donovan McNab.

Frankly, I almost feel sorry for Mr. Limbaugh. Although he’s chosen this life, I’m not sure he realized it. The key word, though, is “almost.” (At this point, some people who know me in real life should realize about whom I’m actually speaking.)

Rush Limbaugh has carved himself a niche in American culture, and he’s king of his own little hill. He collects homage from other radio hosts and Republican officials seek his favor. Unfortunately, he sometimes tries to use his title as king to win favor elsewhere … and he finds that the dung heap which is his hill has a lingering effect.

John Shore vs. Roman Polanski

John Shore has a running post on the Roman Polanski case, and he has asked his readers to help promote it, since the discussion is going and keeps on being interesting.

Really, you ought to read John’s blog all the time if you don’t already, but certainly this post.

To whet your appetite, among the comments, someone asked John what he would say to John if he could say one thing to him. John’s answer?

… I might ask him [...] how far he thinks he could run if I gave him a thirty-second head start.

Really, read Hollywood: Go Polanski Yourself.

And I think that he might have just coined a perfect-good profanity substitute.

“Sacred Waiting” by David Timms

(Disclosure: this was a free book sent to me by way of the Bethany House book review bloggers program.)

David Timms takes on an interesting subject in his book, Sacred Waiting: Waiting on God in a World that Waits for Nothing. He approaches the need for Christians, sometimes, to wait.

Not to sit around doing nothing, but to be ready to do what God wants us to do without rushing anything. More precisely, to wait until it’s God’s time for us to act.

In general, this concept is one that is very challenging. Most of us want to get things done, and get them done now. We’re not really into waiting. After all, if it’s a good thing that x project is done, then we should do it, right? Only, of course, if this is when God wants it done.

Timms divides the book into two parts. The first looks at the role of waiting in the lives of various Biblical figures. Through the lives of Noah, Abraham, David, Moses, and Jesus he points to the fact that just because God wants a thing done doesn’t mean He wants it rushed. He wants it done on His timing, and when it best serves His purposes. There might be a clear reason for it — such as waiting for Moses to be less impulsive (and prone to killing people in anger) — or there might not — such as Abraham and Sarah waiting for their promised son. In any case, the timing serves God’s glory and His people need to learn to be content with His plan.

The second part of the book addresses the liturgical calendar and its celebration of waiting, through Lent, Pentecost, Advent, Easter, and what Timms calls “the Kingdom Wait.” His point through these is that the Church knows of the need to celebrate and remember the times when we’ve been called simply to wait for what the Lord is doing, rather than running out on our own to do things.

This is not a very large book, with only about 180 pages. However, it’s well worth the read. Rather than telling us how to improve ourselves, what to do, and why we should be taking charge of something now, it tells us to sit back, listen to God, and do what we’re told when we’re told … and not before.

For a world that, as Timms notes, waits for nothing it’s a message that we really need to hear.

Untouchable?

My pastor’s most recent blog post is well worth checking out …

Untouchables! asks who it is that Christians treat as untouchable, and how that relates to our call to reflect the love of Christ.