Illinois Federation

For Right to Life

Daily News

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Pro-Abortion Religious Groups Call to Repeal the Hyde Amendment

 

"Especially abhorrent is RCRC's advocacy of government funding for unrestricted abortions. This mindset illustrates how RCRC and its member denominational agencies are morally vapid and divorced from traditional Christian and Jewish teachings." -- Mark Tooley, UMAction Director

 

President-Elect Barack Obama should quickly enact a series of pro-abortion laws, including federal funding of abortions, according to a new letter sent to him by a group of liberal religious organizations.

 

The letter, signed by the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice (RCRC) and several RCRC member Jewish and Mainline Protestant bodies, including the United Methodist General Board of Church and Society, calls for Obama to support the Freedom of Choice Act, which would remove all restrictions on abortions passed by state legislatures. Catholics for Free Choice, another RCRC member, also signed on.

 

The religious groups likewise call to repeal the Hyde Amendment, which prohibits federal funding of abortion services, and the Mexico City Policy, first established by President Ronald Reagan, which prevents government funding of overseas organizations that provide abortions.

 

IRD UMAction Director Mark Tooley commented:

 

"RCRC has long lobbied for unrestricted abortion on demand, with its member denominations acting as a religious veneer for its extreme abortion rights ideology.

 

"Many churchgoers in RCRC member denominations would be horrified to learn how RCRC is exploiting their church’s name to promote unlimited abortion on demand.

 

"Especially abhorrent is RCRC's advocacy of government funding for unrestricted abortions. This mindset illustrates how RCRC and its member denominational agencies are morally vapid and divorced from traditional Christian and Jewish teachings.

 

"Many on the Evangelical and Catholic Left promoted Obama's candidacy, promising his administration would work to reduce the number of abortions in America. Such advocates should now work to counteract RCRC's squalid campaign."

 

Contact: Jeff Walton

Source: The Institute on Religion and Democracy

Source URL: http://www.theird.org/NETCOMMUNITY/Page.aspx?pid=183&srcid=-2

Publish Date: November 18, 2008

Link to this article:

http://www.ifrl.org/ifrl/news/081118_1.htm

 

The IFRL is the largest grassroots pro-life organization in Illinois. A non-profit organization, that serves as the state coordinating body for local pro-life chapters representing thousands of Illinois citizens working to restore respect for all human life in our society. The IFRL is composed of people of different political persuasions, various faiths and diverse economic, social and ethnic backgrounds. Since 1973 the Illinois Federation for Right to Life has been working to end abortion and restore legal protection to those members of the human family who are threatened by abortion, infanticide and euthanasia. Diverse though we are, we hold one common belief - that every human being has an inalienable right to life that is precious and must be protected. IFRL is dedicated to restoring the right to life to the unborn, and protection for the disabled and the elderly.   Click here to learn more about the IFRL.