At ancient city of Ur, Pope Francis makes heartfelt appeal for fraternity of faiths

Religion News  March 6, 2021

VATICAN CITY (RNS) — Speaking on Saturday (March 6) before the monumental remains of Ur, the once-great city where Muslims, Jews and Christians believe their common spiritual forefather Abraham first heard the voice of God, Pope Francis condemned religious hatred and mapped a path to peaceful coexistence among different faiths.

“Hostility, extremism and violence are not born of a religious heart; they are betrayals of religion,” the pope told a crowd of roughly 100 leaders of the three faiths gathered near the historic site on his second day in Iraq. “We believers cannot be silent when terrorism abuses religion; indeed, we are called unambiguously to dispel all misunderstandings.

“Let us not allow the light of heaven to be overshadowed by the clouds of hatred!” he added.

The pope’s visit to Ur has been a much anticipated moment in his three-day apostolic visit to Iraq, the first by any pope. The day marked other papal firsts, including the first-ever encounter between a Roman pontiff and a Shiite religious leader and the first Chaldean Mass celebrated by a Roman Catholic pope.

A Discussion with Ganoune Diop

Berkley Center, Georgetown University  

Background: Ganoune Diop is a leading intellectual within interfaith circles and has been part of the G20 Interfaith Forum since its inception in 2014, focusing on issues of religious freedom. He is currently leading the Association’s working group on religious dimensions of racism. He and Katherine Marshall spoke (by zoom) on July 27, to explore various dimensions of his path from Rufisque, Senegal to the Seventh Day Adventist headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland. This has involved a constant focus on freedom and a remarkable intellectual journey crossing multiple disciplines and topics.

What did you do after you finished with your master’s degree?

I was offered an internship to become a pastor, in Paris, where I lived for many years. During the latter two years I was working as an associate pastor. I was then called to be the senior pastor in another city, Lille, a city with a well-known university with students from all over the world. I engaged many people. I focused then a great deal on philosophy, an area where my interest had never diminished, even as I was doing theology. From Lille, I was called to head the Department of Biblical Studies for the Adventist Church in France, which I did for three years.

The next large shift came when I was asked if I wanted to pursue an academic career as a teacher. That would entail going to the US, to Michigan, and doing a PhD in Old Testament. At the time, I was doing a PhD in New Testament in France at the Catholic University of Paris, linked to semiotics, the analysis of religious discourse. I was also studying at La Sorbonne. I found that fascinating. I stayed in the US for about five years, finishing a PhD in Old Testament. I then returned to France, this time as a teacher.

I had studied ancient languages, Hebrew especially, while I was in college, then for my masters. While I was working in Paris, I decided that I really needed to have a degree in philology, the science of languages. I did not just want to be a good student in Hebrew or a good student in Greek. If I was to teach these languages, I wanted to have the necessary credentials. I went to the Catholic University of Paris again, while I was teaching in France, pursuing a master's degree in philology at the School of Ancient Near Eastern Civilizations and Languages.

The Seventh Day Adventist Church is not part of the World Council of Churches. We have what we call observer status. I'm invited to events and I work with them personally. I was even part of the writing committee at the Busan General Assembly few years ago. We collaborate and we partner, but the Seventh Day Adventist Church has chosen, for freedom of conscience purposes, not to belong to an ecumenical entity with a central organization, because belonging to such a central organization is like surrendering one's constitutional conscience. This may be why the Catholic Church, for example, while having very close and cordial relationships, cannot be under the umbrella of another organization. We position ourselves in a similar way. We will join any table where people come with an equal footing. For reasons of freedom of conscience and preservation of our distinct identity, SDAs are involved in interchurch relations but not fusion of churches. We belong to the family of Christians who confess the Trinitarian God, the divinity of Jesus who is lord and savior. However, just to be clear, in some countries, the Seventh Day Adventist Church is part of, for example, the Protestant World Federation or similar organizations. France and Spain are such cases, because the government deals directly with these entities that include Catholics, Protestants, Jews, Muslims, etc. But we are not part of the World Council of Churches, nor of the Council of European Churches (CEC), even though we work so closely with them I personally teach every year at their European summer school on human rights, and I'm invited at their general assembly    More

G20 Interfaith Forum urges putting ‘human dignity back at the center’ of global debate

Crux Now Oct 14, 2020

As leaders from ten different religious traditions “gathered” through Zoom at an interfaith forum hosted in Saudi Arabia, Pope Francis’s latest document on human fraternity had a central place in the discussions.

“We must put human dignity back at the center and on that pillar build the alternative social structures we need,” said Miguel Ángel Moratinos, High Representative for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, directly quoting from Fratelli Tutti, the papal encyclical released Oct. 4.

His words came during a high-level summit called the G20 Interfaith Forum ahead of the meeting of the G20 leaders in Riyadh next month, where government leaders from 19 countries and the European Union will gather to discuss international economic cooperation.

The Oct. 13-17 interfaith forum was organized online due to the COVID0-19 pandemic.

The line-up of the seventh edition of the forum included Cardinal Miguel Ángel Ayuso Guixot, President of the Vatican’s Council for Interreligious Dialogue; Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople; representatives from the United Nations, the International Dialogue Centre (KAICIID), the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the World Muslim League, and the European Commission.

 

Annual Conference of the Secretaries of the Christian World Communions 2020

CU. 23 Oct 2020

More than thirty participants attended the annual Conference of the Secretaries of Christian World Communions (CS/CWC) that took place online from 20–22 October 2020. The Catholic Church was represented by Bishop Brian Farrell, Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, assisted by Reverend Andrzej Choromanski, staff responsible for the multilateral relations.

The meeting was chaired by Reverend Gretchen Castle (Friends World Committee for Consultation), with Reverend Dr Ganoune Diop (General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists), acting as secretary. The conference opened with a prayer led by former Chair Reverend Dr Martin Junge (Lutheran World Federation), followed by a time of sharing from the participants on the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the life of churches. It was underlined that the anti-COVID-19 measures had created an unprecedented challenge for Christian communions worldwide, limiting the access of the faithful to the usual pastoral care and restraining ecumenical relations. At the same time, the crisis had necessitated the use of modern technologies, with churches developing new and enduring forms of pastoral ministry and ecumenical life.

Time was dedicated to reflection on the nature and identity of the CS/CWC. It was underlined that the Conference is not an organisation with programmatic aims and determined agenda but a fraternal forum of secretaries from diverse Christian communions as well as representatives of some global ecumenical organisations who meet annually to exchange information, learn from each other and nurture fraternal relationships among their churches.

The recent encyclical of Pope Francis Fratelli tutti was acknowledged as an important encouragement to all Christian communions to unite efforts in building a culture of e

ncounter, solidarity and universal fraternity across political, social, and religious borders

The Return

The Return September, 2020

The Return is an end-time movement with one purpose – the return to God – individually, corporately, nationally, globally – and the end-goal of world revival. It crystalized on September 26, 2020, on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. and in gatherings and events throughout the nation and the world. Millions took part and the Lord powerfully moved. 

Now we move forward together for worldwide revival and the end-time harvest foretold in the Scriptures.

G20 Interfaith Forum Gathers North American Religious Leaders

PRNewswire  Aug. 17, 2020

WASHINGTON, -- The G20 Interfaith Forum, the world's leading organization focused on bringing faith and policy together, hosted its North American regional meeting today. The virtual meeting focused on the religious response to COVID-19, racism and refugees and forced migration.

"The current global COVID-19 pandemic has sparked a heightened awareness of the human community's perpetual pandemic: racism," said Dr. Ganoune Diop, Director of Public Affairs and Religious Liberty for the worldwide Seventh-day Adventist Church. "The brutal murder of African-American George Floyd while in police custody in Minneapolis unleashed a planetwide wave of outrage and revulsion at the ancient scourge of racism. The mandate of the G20 Interfaith Forum demands a recognition that racism and its corollary — antiracism — do not constitute an issue, but an idiom.  Racism infects every aspect of human endeavour and planetary existence."

Audrey Kitagawa, Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Parliament of the World's Religions, co-hosted the "Conversation on Anti-Racism and Religious Responsibilities" panel with Diop.

Christians: Let's unite in pandemic to fight injustices

ABC August 27, 2020

VATICAN CITY -- Two authoritative religious bodies on Thursday called on Christians to band together to fight “sins” laid bare or aggravated by the pandemic, including racism and economic injustice.

The Vatican and the World Council of Churches, which is based in Switzerland, issued a joint document noting that the COVID-19 outbreak has drawn attention to "the scandalous gap between the rich and the poor.” The document declared that Christians are compelled to work to heal inequalities, including between men and women.

Christians must “own up to our own complicity and guilt in many systems of oppression” and resist the “temptation” to blame the poor for their poverty, it said.

The inter-religious appeal encourages reflection during the pandemic about the “scourge of religious intolerance, discrimination, racism, economic and ecological injustice and many other sins.”

Preparing the document for the Vatican was the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue. The effort reflects Pope Francis' push for Christians to stress their common values in working to combat environmental degradation and to help those on life's margins, such as migrants.

The World Council of Churches brings together churches, denominations and church fellowships in more than 110 countries and territories, representing more than a half-billion Christians.

The document cites the New Testament parable of the Good Samaritan as inspiration to “overcome religious prejudice and cultural biases in relation both to those whom we serve, and to those with whom we serve, as we strive to alleviate suffering and to restore healing and wholeness in a pluralistic world.”

Citing the gap between rich and poor, the appeal said the pandemic has “exacerbated racial prejudices and led to increased violence against those who have for long been considered a threat to the dominant body politic that is structured and sustained” by systems of inequality, discrimination and domination. The document named no country, society or political system.

Now is the “time for discovering new forms of solidarity for rethinking the post-COVID-19 world,” the document said. Religions, it said, can contribute to reawakening and guiding humanity “in building a new social order at the local, regional, national and international levels.”

That vision can draw on “a heritage of moral values common to all human beings.” And, the document's authors contended, such a reawakening would benefit from young people, “whose idealism and energy can be an antidote to the temptation of cynicism, in the endeavor to heal the wounded world of which we are part.”

 

Global Lord’s Prayer “united for humanity”

Oikumene 24 March 2020

World Council of Churches general secretary Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit invites all member churches for a joint prayer, saying the Lord’s Prayer together on Wednesday 25 March at noon.

Pope Francis has extended an invitation to all Christian leaders, including the World Council of Churches (WCC), to join in praying the Lord’s Prayer simultaneously on 25 March at noon Rome time, or noon local time at any location across the world.

In a letter of invitation, Cardinal Kurt Koch expressed his hope that all will join “this initiative in which all Christians invoking together the graces from heaven, will ask for the end of this pandemic, trusting in the power of God.”

WCC general secretary Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit welcomed the invitation and the opportunity for so many people to participate in a united prayer for all of humanity as the world faces the pandemic of COVID-19.

“As people across the globe are in their scattered working places at home, we will have the opportunity to unite our voices in praying to God with the words that our Lord Jesus Christ taught us” said Tveit. “At this challenging time, prayerful activities that unite us are a reminder that we are one human family.”

All denominations uniting under the trinity ecumenical movement as described in revelation 13

¹¹ And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.

¹² And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.

¹³ And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,

¹⁴ And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.

¹⁵ And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.

¹⁶ And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:

¹⁷ And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

¹⁸ Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.      Revelation 13:11-18

Trump uniting with evangelicals

NBC.  Jan. 3, 2020

President Donald Trump launched his campaign's new coalition to court evangelical voters at a Latino megachurch Friday, part of efforts to shore up support in the community for his re-election bid as well as broaden it in the wake of a prominent evangelical magazine coming out in support of his impeachment.

“Every Democratic candidate running for president is trying to punish religious believers and silence our churches,” Trump told a crowd of thousands at the Ministerio Internacional El Rey Jesús. "This election is about the survival of our nation."

The rally-style event, which included everything from a prayer session and brief remarks by a young woman who chose not to get an abortion after becoming pregnant unexpectedly in college, saw Trump acknowledge the power of the evangelical voters who helped put him in office in 2016 and boast of conservative accomplishments both real and exaggerated while promising more to come.

A win in November, Trump said, would be “another monumental victory for faith and family, God and country."

Religious gathering with Kanye West to fill up Sun Devil Stadium

Ktar  January 17, 2020 

PHOENIX – College football season is over, but a huge crowd is expected to converge on Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe on Saturday for a daylong religious gathering featuring rapper Kanye West.

All of the free tickets for Awaken 2020 were quickly snapped up online. The event’s website invites attendees “to be part of the Jesus awakening that is shifting HISTORY.”

West and his Sunday Service Collective gospel choir may be the biggest draw, but the event runs from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. with about a dozen evangelical leaders.

In addition to West, who released the Christian-themed album “Jesus is King” in October, Daniel Kolenda, David Herzog, Brian “Head” Welch, Cindy Jacobs, Jerame Nelson, Guillermo Maldonado, Jake Hamilton, Jeremy Riddle, Stephanie Herzog, Eddie James and Steve Swanson are scheduled to speak.

Faith leaders call for unity, 75 years after the liberation of Auschwitz

Church Times. 24 January 2020

THE 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz should be used “to come before God in worship, conscious of our need for forgiveness, but committed to action that would seek the common flourishing of all”, the Archbishop of Canterbury has said.

In a statement released this week, in advance of Holocaust Memorial Day on Monday, Archbishop Welby said: “The Holocaust, the Shoah, remains a unique stain on the history of Europe, and a chilling reminder to me of how millennia of Christian anti-Jewish hatred could provide a seedbed for such evil.”

The Council of Christians and Jews (CCJ) has released a prayer for this year’s Holocaust Memorial Day. It was launched at an event in the House of the Lords on Monday, where it was read by the Bishop of London, the Rt Revd Sarah Mullally.

The chair of the CCJ, the Bishop of Lichfield, Dr Michael Ipgrave, said: “Through prayer, we will be asking Christians to remember the pains of the past, and to recommit to a better future for all people, and, in particular, of course, to commit themselves to combating anti-Semitism, which is such a scourge in our society and our world.”

The chief executive of the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust (HMDT), Olivia Marks-Woldman, said: “This year, we reflect on the theme ‘Stand Together’. In the run-up to the Holocaust, and in each subsequent genocide, perpetrators took deliberate steps to stop their designated victims living, studying, and working alongside their neighbours. Communities were stopped from being together.

“And, today, we know that prejudice and hostility based on faith or identity is still prevalent in many areas. Indeed, in some cases, it is even on the increase. We need to show solidarity to others.”

Pope Francis is building his One World Religion called Chrislam

NTEB November 29, 2019

We showed you how Pope Francis travelled to Abu Dhabi earlier this year and entered into a covenant with Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb, the ruling leader in Sunni Islam. That peace covenant led to the formation of a Chrislam interfaith council, which then led to the stunning announcement that a Chrislam headquarters would be open in Abu Dhabi by 2022. Now Pope Francis has travelled to Thailand where he met with the ruling Buddhist leader there, and as in Abu Dhabi, presented him with a copy of his Declaration On Human Fraternity’, the Vatican manifesto of the One World Religion.

FROM THE CATHOLIC HERALD UK: After giving prepared speeches, Pope Francis and the Supreme Patriarch had a brief informal conversation, in which they spoke about the value of fraternity between the two religions for promoting peace.

“If we are brothers, we can help world peace,” the poor, and the suffering, Pope Francis said, “because to help the poor is always a path of blessing.” They also spoke about education and the role of missionaries in the country. Before leaving, the two exchanged blessings. READ MORE

Pope Francis is building his One World Religion called Chrislam, but it will not be limited to simply an alliance between the Catholics and the Muslims. No, it will include all the major faiths with one notable exception. It will not contain biblical Christianity, but rather the Laodicean Christian church that is so disgustingly lukewarm.

Leader of SDA church in ecumenical union with Rome

Christian Unity   October 2019

The annual Conference of Secretaries of Christian World Communions (CS/CWC) took place from 8–10 October 2019 in Christiansfeld, Denmark. The meeting was hosted by the Moravian Church Unity Worldwide Board, represented by Reverend Dr Jørgen Bøytler. The Catholic Church was represented by Bishop Brian Farrell, Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity.

The CS/CWC was established in 1957, bringing together general secretaries from diverse Christian communions as well as representatives of some global ecumenical organisations. The Conference is a fraternal forum of Church leaders aiming at exchange of information on important events in their particular Communions as well as giving an update on the bilateral and multilateral dialogues in which their Communions are involved. The Conference does not pass resolutions and does not issue an official communiqué. Meeting without interruption for over sixty years, the Conference has significantly contributed to build trust and partnership among the Church leaders and between their respective traditions, and to foster the coherence of the ecumenical movement worldwide. The Conference is currently chaired by Reverend Dr Martin Junge, General Secretary of the Lutheran World Federation, who is seconded by the secretary, Dr Ganoune Diop, Director of Public Affairs and Religious Liberty for the worldwide Seventh–day Adventist Church.

Reports from the following Communions were received during this year’s Conference: the Armenian Apostolic Church (on behalf of the Oriental Orthodox Churches), the Anglican Communion, the Disciples Ecumenical Consultative Council, the Ecumenical Patriarchate (Orthodox Church of Constantinople), the Friends World Committee for Consultation, the General Conference of Seventh–day Adventists, Global Pentecostalism, the International Old Catholic Bishops’ Conference (Union of Utrecht), the Lutheran World Federation, the Mennonite World Conference, the Moravian Church Worldwide Unity Board, the Organisation of African Instituted Churches, the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity (Roman Catholic Church), the Salvation Army, the World Convention of Churches of Christ, the World Communion of Reformed Churches, the World Methodist Council, the World Evangelical Alliance, and two ecumenical bodies: the World Council of Churches and the Global Christian Forum.

Participation in the opening prayer service led according to the Moravian tradition and in a traditional Moravian Lovefast, as well as the visit to the historic Moravian Settlement in Christiansfeld (UNESCO World Heritage), offered the participants an opportunity to gain more familiarity with this Church.

Church of Satan is “pleased” that Kanye West has released Jesus Is King

The Fader    October 28, 2019

“Satan is the best friend Kanye has ever had,” says the Church of Satan.

Kanye West released his new gospel album Jesus Is King on Friday, finally putting long-suffering fans out of their misery after weeks of delays, Sunday Service concerts, leaked songs, and various other antics. The record is, as one would expect, about West’s relationship with God, serving as a kind of atonement for past sins and promise of faithful servitude. God hasn’t yet responded to this album-length request for comment, but you know who has? Satan! Late last week, the Church Of Satan tweeted about the record. “Satan is the best friend Kanye has ever had," they wrote, "as he will keep him in business all these years!”

The tweet is a reference to Church Of Satan founder Anton Szandor LaVey, who believed that the fear of Satan and eternal damnation is what keeps people going back to church. “Satan has been the best friend the church has ever had, as he has kept it in business all these years!” LaVey wrote in The Satanic Verses. Later last Friday, the Church responded to a fan who tweeted that “Satan is pissed,” writing, “We’re more pleased than anything! Only those who read our literature will ‘get it.'” Read the Church Of Satan’s tweets about Kanye below. 

Can Mary be a bridge between Muslims and Christianity?

June 21, 2019  CT

Mohammed, a pious PhD student from Egypt, sat guardedly in the “Community of Reconciliation.” Invited by David Vidmar, director of coaching for Peace Catalysts International, the middle-aged Muslim seemed soured on the idea of interfaith exchange at his northern California university.

Vidmar suspected Mohammed came to the jointly led Muslim-Christian dinners because he felt obligated to do da’wah, the Arabic word for spreading Islam. But over a shared meal and discussion about Mary, the Egyptian’s attitude shifted. “The deeper we got into the life of Mary and how Christians understand the virgin birth of Jesus, he became very enthused,” Vidmar said. “There are so many misunderstandings . . . it was wonderful to observe him see the similarities and be able to relax.”

Peace Catalysts is a Jesus-centered peacemaking effort, focused primarily on Christians and Muslims. Vidmar and his family worked for eight years with Uighurs in Kazakhstan and still wish Muslims would experience the love and forgiveness God reveals through Jesus. But now he works to help both sides experience heart transformation through deep and genuine friendship—and Mary proved a fruitful bridge.

“Since so many Muslims use the term ‘Jesus, Son of Mary,’ it would be helpful for evangelicals to think more deeply about this,” Vidmar said. “Muslims often excitedly tell me their favorite chapter in the Qur’an is Maryam, and women especially express appreciation for it.”

Mary is mentioned 34 times in the Qur’an—more than in the New Testament—and its only named woman.

Chick-fil-A Earns Double the Revenue of McDonalds Despite Closing on Sundays

August 02, 2019   CBN

Restaurant chain Chick-fil-A has once again recorded market-leading sales figures, despite sticking by its long-standing Sunday closure policy.

The chain, which is known for its caring staff strong Christian ethos, has become the fifth-largest fast-food company in the US, according to new data analyzed by investment banking company, Goldman Sachs.

Incredibly, despite shuttering its doors on the Lord’s day, the specialty chicken outlet has managed to generate over double the sales revenue of its well-known competitor, McDonald's. 

“Our brand survey shows that Chick-fil-A has had the most brand momentum across [fast-food restaurants] — supporting the most increase in total revenue (in dollar terms) in the US,” the Goldman analysts wrote in their report, according to Business Insider.

The firm also noted a word of advice in light of the restaurant’s meteoric rise — “steer clear from those in the fray of Chick-fil-A,” the analysts wrote. “Our 2,000 consumer brand survey suggests they will continue to take share and grow.”

Last year, Chick-fil-A generated a staggering $10 billion in sales, up from just $2 billion in 2005. Their location numbers are growing, too. Despite KFC shutting down 1% of all its outlets, Chick-fil-A has opened an additional 8%! Clearly, this restaurant chain is being blessed.

The restaurant’s popularity was clear to see in Mebane, N.C., Thursday as devoted customers camped out overnight to get a chance to win free chicken for an entire year.

And the loyal fans certainly received their reward — an electronic card which entitled them to some 52 Chick-fil-A meals over the next twelve months!

“Being involved in our community and mentoring our young team members is what is most important to us, so we are thrilled to develop new and existing relationships with the Mebane area,” branch manager Todd Perkins said in a news release, according to Fox 8. “My team and I are incredibly honored to expand our opportunity to serve and bring a new Chick-fil-A to our guests who can enjoy our delicious food and genuine hospitality.”

I shall never tire of repeating this: peace is possible

Zenit  April 11, 2019

‘I think constantly of these suffering souls and I pray that the fires of war will finally die down … I shall never tire of repeating this: peace is possible’ 

Pope Francis addressed top South Sudanese civil and church authorities today, April 11, urging them to overcome what divides them, reminding that peace is possible and expressing his desire to visit the country.

His remarks came at the end of their two-day spiritual retreat in the Vatican, proposed and organized by Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, which brought together those who will lead as president and vice-president of the country following a peace accord signed last September, and Church representatives, both Catholic and Protestant leaders.

In his address, Pope Francis stressed: “I urge you, then, to seek what unites you, beginning with the fact that you belong to one and the same people, and to overcome all that divides you.”

“People are wearied, exhausted by past conflicts: remember that with war, all is lost! Your people today are yearning for a better future, which can only come about through reconciliation and peace.”

The Pope has on various conditions expressed his desire to visit the civil-war struck nation, along with Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, who presented the proposal to organize this retreat and has led it.

Religious leaders sign letter supporting abortion

Lifenews  Apr 17, 2019 

A group of Tennessee faith leaders and activists publicly declared their support for abortion on demand in a letter urging pro-life Gov. Bill Lee to oppose heartbeat legislation.

Fox 17 in Nashville reports this month, more than 150 religious leaders signed the letter calling for abortions to be kept legal and easily accessible in Tennessee.

“Because we trust pregnant people, we know that these decisions are informed by tremendous reflection and not taken lightly,” the letter states. “When a person decides that abortion is their best option, they need community support not obstacles preventing safe access to medical care.”

This spring, state lawmakers have been considering several pro-life measures, including a bill to ban abortions after an unborn baby’s heartbeat is detectable and another to ban abortions completely once Roe v. Wade is overturned. In January, Lee said he supports legislation to protect unborn babies.

The religious leaders urged Lee to oppose not just the heartbeat bill but “all attempts to criminalize and restrict abortion access.”

They argued that lawmakers should “trust women” to decide whether to abort their unborn babies.

“While there are varied opinions on abortion based on religious beliefs, as persons with deep faith commitments, we affirm a person’s right to decide when to become a parent or expand their family,” they wrote. “As people of faith and as Tennesseans, we believe in loving our neighbors and treating one another as we would like to be treated — with compassion, dignity, and respect.”

Yet, they have no compassion or respect for unborn babies who are unique, living human beings from the moment of conception. By six weeks, their hearts already are beating, and by nine weeks, they have detectable brain waves.

However, religious leaders said the decision to end unborn babies’ lives should be left up to the mother.

“While decisions concerning pregnancy can be complex and difficult, I believe that all persons have the right to make decisions for themselves, in consultation with their doctors and faith leader where appropriate,” said the Rev. Judi Hoffman, a co-pastor at East End Methodist Church in Nashville who signed the letter.

Hendersonville Pastor Napoleon Harris, another signer, told lawmakers they should focus on making sure families can make a “living wage” rather than restrict abortion.

“This decision is one that should be prayerfully made by families – the parents of the soon-to-be-born. This is not a decision to be left to legislators,” Harris said. “If legislators want to act in the best interests of morality and families, both admirable endeavors, procuring a living wage would be a more feasible means to that end.”

The letter was signed by pastors and other religious leaders and activists who identify as Methodist, Presbyterian, Baptist, Lutheran, United Church of Christ, Unitarian Universalist, African Methodist Episcopal, Catholic, Episcopal, Brethren, Seventh Day Adventist, Anglican and Nazarene – all Christian denominations. Muslim, Buddhist and Jewish leaders also signed, as well a pagan priestess.

Our Religion Changed