Getting practical on abortion

I was really glad that my colleague, Dr Michelle Gajus Read, successfully gave notice of motion on the topic of abortion at the recent Synod of the Anglican Diocese of Sydney to which I belong. I was especially pleased because it was Michelle’s very first time at our Synod, and it takes some courage to get up and speak in front of 500 or so Synod reps. As it turned out, in the end, I had to move the motion in Michelle’s absence, since the matter came up for debate on the last day, when she was unavoidably absent due to family concerns.

Now I am even more pleased that students from Moore College have come up with a practical way of making sure many Australians can do something practical to promote alternatives to abortion. On 8 December, Australians who receive Family Tax Benefit A will be given $1000 per child as part of the federal government’s financial stimulus package to address the global financial crisis. In brief, the Moore College students are encouraging those Australians who receive this unexpected bonus to donate half of it (via Anglicare Sydney) to initiatives that will encourage and support women who wish to bring their babies to birth, even in difficult circumstances.

My view is that American evangelicals probably do a lot more in this area than most evangelicals in Australia. This initiative is a way for Aussie Christians to turn theory into practice. You can read more about it via the Anglican Social Issues Briefing. Or you can go direct to the Free Money for New Lives website. You can also see Rowan Hilsden (the student who dreamed up the idea) speak about it at YouTube, followed by an endorsement from Rev Dr John Wodhouse, Principal of Moore College.

My own further small contribution is to encourage people to keep writing to your local state and federal members of parliament on this matter. Of course, we must act practically to support women who keep their babies in difficult circumstances. But it is still important to make our views heard, even when there is no direct piece of legislation before a Parliament.

Here is a sample from what I have sent, reporting the recent view of our Synod on the matter of abortion. Of course, you might word a letter differently—perhaps more briefly, according to your own context.

Dear X,

I hope you are well. We pray for our parliamentary representatives regularly at church here.

I write to inform you—as a local member—about a resolution passed with almost unanimous support at our recent Synod for the Anglican Diocese of Sydney to which we belong.

The resolution concerns abortion. The section most relevant to parliamentarians is as follows:

34/08 Abortion

Noting recent renewed debate about abortion around Australia, this Synod—

1. affirms pregnancy and childbirth are part of God’s good plan for humankind
2. affirms pregnancy is the privilege and responsibility of both the mother and the father of the unborn person
3. affirms the sanctity of life, even of the unborn child
4. supports legislative and social changes which would reduce the number of abortions in Australia, and
5. encourages and applauds health professionals who, for reasons of conscience, do not promote, aid or assist in ending the life of the unborn, except where the mother’s life is gravely at risk.

 

You will see that our understanding is that rarely, but sadly, the threat to a mother’s life might rightly permit an abortion. However, during the synod debate it was noted (from studies published in The Medical Journal of Australia) that the most frequently given reasons for abortion in Australia were financial concerns (60%). Other lifestyle issues also featured far more prominently in such decisions than matters such as rape or medical difficulties.

I hope you will note our concerns which reflect the views of many Christians in the community and in your own electorate.

We want to encourage all legislative and social changes which would reduce the number of abortions in Australia.

On the other hand, we also would be disturbed to see further legislation similar to that recently passed in Victoria, which forces doctors who cannot support abortion for reasons of conscience to refer to doctors who will.

I should say that these views are not simply theoretical. People from my church at St Michael’s are currently supporting initiatives via financial means which:

1. support and develop Anglicare’s Carramar Early Interventions, a safe house and support program that cares for young pregnant women in adverse circumstances who want to keep their child; and
2. to support research and public policy development that advocates life-affirming ‘pro-woman’ alternatives to abortion which enhance a woman’s freedom to have their babies.

Thank you for your consideration on this matter.

Kind regards,

Rev Canon Sandy Grant
Rector and Senior Canon
St Michael’s Anglican Cathedral

P.S. I promise you I’m not really that much into titles, but it can be useful when you are writing to a politician!