16 July 2003

Incoherent stand by Mennonite Church?

Here is a report from Lifenews.com that does not put the Mennonite Church in a very favourable light: "Mennonite Church Opposes Abortion and Pro-Life Laws."

The Mennonite Church is taking a stand against abortion, but not in favour of laws that would limit it.

The Mennonite Church USA has adopted a policy saying most abortions are "counter to Biblical principles," but it is urging its members to refrain from lobbying for laws that would involve "using the government to force others to comply with our Christian standards." The church claims such laws unfairly target women and the poor.

Because ecclesiastical assemblies are usually forced to put together statements on political issues that are products of compromise among different viewpoints, such statements can turn out to sound somewhat incoherent. I would tend to think that institutional churches should refrain from taking positions on specific laws, which are a matter of prudential judgements. However, to discourage members from pursuing laws to protect the unborn seems wrongheaded.

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