The Presbyterian Church, USA is among the main line denominations that support abortion. However they have a ministry, PRESBYTERIANS PRO-LIFE, that tries to change the church by research, education and care. It is a near hopeless task but we are thankful that there are those that will continue the fight. Please read the article BLACK LIVES MATTER by Marie Bowen, PPL Executive Director. Blacks riot when police kill blacks resisting arrest but seem to care less when their babies are killed by abortion.
Marie Bowen | Presbyterians Pro-Life
During Black History Month as we reflect and repent of our nation’s sins of racism, let’s take a hard look at the racial discrimination that continues against black lives in the womb.
For a white over 60 woman to wade into the topic of young black lives lost is a little like walking into a minefield. Whatever I say is bound to make someone angry—well, so be it. The truth about any violent death is hard to decipher. It is no wonder that the laws of the Old Testament required two or three witnesses to condemn someone of a crime. Even when we hear multiple accounts, we often do not know which sources can be trusted.
I do not pretend to know all the truth about the shooting of Michael Brown in August, or the choking death of Eric Garner in July or the deaths of John Crawford or Dante Parker—four African American men who died at the hands of police within one month last summer. I do know that it fueled rage that was expressed in riots and demonstrations and brought to the surface the ugliness of racism that continues to divide Americans.
I do know that when police matters arise, all Americans should be treated equally regardless of race. I do know that each of those men’s lives were precious to God and that he is paying attention any time there is shedding of human blood. Each one will be remembered by God because as their Creator he is intimately acquainted with every aspect of their being—he formed them in the womb of their mothers!
Justice, and injustice, begin in the womb.
The facts show that abortion rates in America are higher for minorities. While blacks make up 13.2% of the population according to the 2010 census figures, the latest reports show that African Americans account for 30% of abortions. A slightly lower discrepancy exists for Hispanics who represent 17.1% of the population and have 25% of abortions. Individuals might disagree about the causes of the difference in abortion rates across the ethnic spectrum, but racial discrimination should not be ruled out as a causative factor. Planned Parenthood, America’s leading abortion provider, was founded by Margaret Sanger who said “all our problems are the result of overbreeding among the working class.” While her crass statement targeted economic status rather than race, it is a fact that Planned Parenthood has targeted Black and Hispanic neighborhoods in locating its clinics nationwide. They are on record as identifying their “core clients” as “young women, low-income women, and women of color.”
The abortion of black babies is no small matter. Ryan Scott Bomberger, founder of The Radiance Foundation educates using a factsheet that states that abortion is the “Number one Killer” in the black community resulting in 363,705 deaths of black lives annually. Bomberger, whose birthmother was raped was adopted and raised in a Christian multi-racial family. He points to fatherlessness as a contributing factor to both the high instance of abortions and other forms of violence in black communities. “Nearly 73% of all black children are born into homes without fathers. Father absence has been killing the black community for decades.” But, Bomberger points to the disproportionate number of black babies killed by Planned Parenthood and quotes Martin Luther King, Jr:
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”
Dr. Alveda King, niece of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. also believes the disparate numbers of abortions among black women is devastating in its effect on African American families. In a blog post she says:
“The Shockwaves of Abortion have especially devastated the African American family. . .In New York City, 6 out of every 10 unborn African Americans are aborted! Since 1973, 13 million African American pregnancies have been ended by abortion.”
In an open letter to African American leaders King states:
“Here, we nobly speak of the quality of rights for all persons, action plans and non-violent solutions, while the rights of the helpless and the pre-born are continually violated in often the most violent acts imaginable. Indeed, in America, since 1973, over 40 million American babies have been legally murdered. At least 13 million of these babies were Black. Two of these babies were mine. Coupled with the blatant practice of euthanasia, and the open assault on marriage and family, we have lost and continue to lose millions of our children in this culture of death. Some may argue that a woman has a right to chose what she does with her body. She does, but where is the lawyer for the baby, who is like a helpless slave in the womb of his/her mother?”
How ugly are the racist attitudes toward unborn black babies?
Alveda King points to an online comment in response to an April 2011 Chicago Tribune article by Dennis Byrne.
“Let them exercise their right to abortions. As terrible as it may sound, imagine the crime rates and social services that would be required in addition to all we already provide, if abortions didn’t happen in the black community.”
King interprets the attitude behind such comments:
“For many Americans (particularly among non blacks), abortion is seen as an unpleasant but necessary solution to managing the birth rate in communities where the family is already on life support and city and state budgets for social services are pushed to the breaking point.”
Abortion is no solution
King views it a “tragic mistake” to fail to see the high price minority communities pay for their high abortion rate. “Abortion creates emotional, spiritual and physical wounds and . . makes women more vulnerable to ongoing exploitation, dysfunction and abuse in their relationship,” King claims. That leads to “instability and dysfunction” that leaves children “vulnerable to predatory relatives, partners and friends,” says King, and the cycle continues.
Bomberger has also been the recipient of racist comments related to his stand against abortion of black babies. He compiled a page of quotes on the Radiance Foundation website. The comments (which I have no wish to repeat) are stark exhibitions of what racism is at root—a devaluing of the worth of another human being based on the color of his/her skin. Sadly, racist attitudes applied to the abortion of unborn blacks are expressed in Presbyterian churches too. One gentleman defended to me his belief that abortion should remain legal in cases of rape and incest by saying, “If my daughter were raped by a black man I would want her to be able to get an abortion.” His comment betrays his heart. I have heard others, men and women elders, refer to black women who “have so many children on welfare” and therefore “need” abortion. And the children? They “never should have been born” or they “should have been aborted” With such ugly attitudes persisting in the church what hope is there for society?
It is time for the church to exhibit justice that begins in the womb!
Job’s defense of himself before his friends (who thought evil had befallen him due to his own sin) includes his claim to have walked justly in his treatment of others. In Job 31:15 he points to the reason that motivates his integrity in acting with justice:
“Did not he who made me in the womb make him? And did not one fashion us in the womb?”
As long as the church continues to condone abortion or is silent in the face of abortion’s devastation of minorities we will not see the end of racism in our society. Justice begins in the womb (where every human life begins) and so does the end of racism. It’s time for the church to speak up and take leadership in ending abortion for every child. Yes, black lives matter—born and unborn, as does every human life—every life matters to God! Every human life is a gift for the blessing of the whole human family.
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