Outer Rim Territories

I’m reposting Frank’s research on the ELCA stance on abortion:

Putting Out The Fire: Do All Lutherans Look At Abortion The Same Way?

Do all Lutherans look at abortion the same way? No they don’t, plain and simple.

The largest Lutheran body in the United States, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA) has on their website Dig Deeper what they call “Abortion (Lutheran view)”. Quoting from The ELCA Social Statement on Abortion :

A developing life in the womb does not have an absolute right to be born, nor does a pregnant woman have an absolute right to terminate a pregnancy.

The statement does go on to say that abortion should be a last resort but the fact that they start the explanation with the statement declaring that the unborn has no right to be born is telling in a gut wrenching kind of way.

Here’s the statement from my little corner of Lutheranism, the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod:

The LCMS believes that abortion is contrary to God’s Word and “is not a moral option except, except as a tragically unavoidable byproduct of medical procedures necessary to prevent the death of another human being, viz., the mother”

I’ve had my share of criticisms of the LCMS but on this matter the LCMS is right on target. By coming right out of the gate and stating that abortion is contrary to God’s Word, the LCMS clearly sets itself apart from apostate groups like ELCA who claim to speak for all Lutherans. The statement is short and sweet, to the point, without any having to link to additional documents that celebrate the “Gift of Our Diversity” as justification for the taking of an unborn life.

So, do all Lutherans look at abortion the same way? Again, no they don’t.

Related posts:

1. Which way, ELCA? Assembly votes on sexuality Friday Rev. Robert C. Baker has some excellent critique of the...
2. Northwoods Seelsorger: The Hideous American Crime of Abortion Northwoods Seelsorger: The Hideous American Crime of Abortion The Hideous...
3. Woman Tells TV Show About Horrible Abortion Experience Woman Tells TV Show About Horrible Late-Term Abortion Experience Dickerson...
4. Putting Out The Fire: Asparagus And Jelly Donuts Putting Out The Fire: Asparagus And Jelly Donuts Preparing to...
5. What are Lutherans? Ask the Pastor: The Presentation of the Augsburg Confession As...