Abortion is Horrible and Tragic and Sometimes Unavoidable
Yesterday our nation began the next step in a journey that began many years ago. With the release of the most recent decision on Abortion by the United States Supreme Court, what had been our nation’s legal basis for debate has been changed. After more than fifty years, it has been declared the Court that, contrary to what was decided before, there does not exist a constitutional right to abortion. That decision has angered some and pleased others.
As I watched the social media comments among my friends, I was saddened by the language of war used by many of my friends. Let me be clear. Abortion, like war, is always horrible, always tragic, should never be desired or celebrated, but is sometimes unavoidable. Also, like war, abortion is supported and promoted with the use of false premises and logic and defended using skewed statistics. It just is, and anyone who denies that truth is not having an honest conversation.
The Church teaching is clear as expressed recently in a document published by the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the Unites States. “Any deliberate ending of human life is a rejection of its sacredness and inviolability and is unacceptable. This includes the death of the unborn by abortion, murder in peacetime or in war, suicide, and euthanasia. The Church mourns the premature end of a human life, and we seek to minister with compassion and mercy in these situations.”
This is not the first time our Church will be morally at odds with society, nor will it be the last. There are many moral failures that are established precedent of our society. The Church always weeps with and for those who fall to temptation and turn away from the Church. We must remember whether it be abortion or any other sin, repentance is the road to salvation instead of judgment.
The Lord said, “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye. Do not give dogs what is holy; and do not throw your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under foot and turn to attack you. Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For every one who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.
Matthew 7.1-8
Before you return to the social media debates on abortion, I encourage you to reflect on the log in your own eye. He who is without sin should cast the first stone. (see John 8.7) Having compassion on those who have had abortions is not sin, nor is sinful to fight to protect the innocent lives in the womb. What IS sinful is the rage and violent acts and words exchanged in the debate.
As Orthodox Christians we live in a society of laws, that often are not within our moral standard. Our job as Orthodox is first and foremost to look at ourselves and live ORTHODOX LIVES. As citizens it is our right to participate in the legal process of establishing law and codes. Sometimes those laws are good and sometimes they are not good. The legal process and debate on abortion and other issues will never end, and like any pendulum will continue to swing in both directions. Be careful not to be sliced in two when it passes you in the debate.
