WASHINGTON, June 24, 2002 (LSN.ca) – The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) voted Friday to affirm the “unrestricted right” to abortion prior to the child being able to survive on his/her own outside the womb. After viability, the assembly says, late term abortion is still acceptable but pastoral and medical counsel is advised and it is suggested only in cases of rape, incest, fetal suffering, and to preserve the health and life of the mother.
Judy L. Woods, moderator of the denomination’s advisory committee on litigation said “We affirmed the fundamental right to (abortion) prior to viability. But after viability, we have said that although there is still a right to choose, that choice has to be undertaken after prayer and pastoral consultation . . . and only in certain circumstances.” The denomination also voted to continue to fund late-term abortions under the church’s medical benefits plan.
Terry Schlossberg of Burke, Va., executive director of Presbyterians Pro-Life, commented on the wording saying: “This allows for so many exceptions; there’s no way for the church to counsel that any late-term abortion would be objectionable.” See the coverage in the Dispatch: https://libpub.dispatch.com/cgi-bin/documentv1?DBLIST=cd02&DOCNUM=26981&TERMV=214:13:311:12:5588:12:46645:13:67129:12:72310:13: