Southern Baptists, Calvary Chapel Supporting Ministry That Tells Women How to Have an Abortion
As Christians, we are to look at abortion as murder -- the unjust taking of innocent life -- and a non-option not only for believers but society as a whole. It is not something that we look at as a last resort after we've sought exhaustively all other options. No, it is a crime against God and man that deserves the highest in capital punishment and we are to fight against it with every fiber of our being.
Yet, mainstream Christianity has embraced a movement that labels itself "pro-life" while, on the one hand, giving lip service to anti-abortionism and on the other hand, advocating for "holistic" approaches that only view abortion as a "sometimes necessary" evil.
A popular and growing "pro-life" ministry by the name of Stanton Healthcare touts itself as offering" life-affirming solutions and resources to abortion vulnerable women," providing "hope to those struggling from the pain of a past abortion," and sharing "the message of sexual integrity - in a confidential and professional environment that promotes physical, emotional, and spiritual wellness." And quite a few Evangelical -- including Baptist, Calvary, and even Reformed Presbyterian churches are supporting this ministry.
Yet, this "ministry" -- that claims to be pro-life -- gives women instructions on how to find an abortion provider. In a page on the ministry's website titled Choosing an Abortion Provider: 12 Considerations, Stanton instructs women on how to seek an abortion provider once they've made the decision to do so. Giving them a list of "considerations," some of the advice they give includes,
An abortion is a big decision and the abortion facility workers should acknowledge your feelings and take them seriously.
Do not settle for anything less than a physician who has completed her/his residency in obstetrics and gynecology.
Make sure that the clinic is prepared to send you to a hospital in case of an emergency. Abortion is surgery, after all. All surgery comes with potential risk.
Some abortion facilities "process" a lot of women quickly, meaning that they will rush you through your abortion and not give you the individual attention that you deserve as a paying consumer. Refuse to be treated like a commodity.
No matter how desperate and scared you feel right now, don't sell yourself short! When considering abortion, don't just make any choice. Make an educated choice. As a paying consumer, you deserve nothing less.
Beware of clinic workers who try to rush you into making an "impulse buy." This is a major choice you are making, and a "pro-choice” clinic worker should respect you for making an educated one. You are a consumer considering elective surgery. You deserve time to think it over.
Anyone -- especially a Christian -- can look at that and know that these are not the words of a pro-life ministry, but a pro-choice one. In fact, these words are unequivocally pro-choice. To downplay abortion in such a way that it's referred to as an "elective surgery" or a "big decision" with "pros and cons" is diametrically opposed to the Christian's calling to stand for justice. It's sick.
Yet, there are Southern Baptists, Calvary Chapels, and even Reformed Presbyterian churches who are supporting this ministry. In fact, the Vice President of Stanton's Board of Directors is Patrick Mahoney, an ordained minister in the Reformed Presbyterian Church.
