Anglican Perspectives

The Dignity of Every Human Life

Photo by Ashton Mullins on Unsplash

The recent Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade rocked the nation and the Church. The divide between those who support the right to abortion and those who do not could not have been clearer. In the past ten years, no case was as important to the American pro-life moment than this one. Protests and vandalism marked the decision, in addition to threats against justices, and a continued outcry on both sides for more change. Those on the pro-choice side continue to call for more radical solutions to what they see as a major problem: a Supreme Court that mixes religious convictions with judicial decisions. Pro-choice states are enacting laws that enshrine the right to abortion in their legislatures, and pro-choice organizations and businesses are helping women in conservative states find their way to where they can obtain an abortion. On the other hand, pro-life commentators, politicians, and clergy continue to remind us that the fight for the lives of children does not end here. It is the beginning of a movement towards real change, but it is not the change itself. This Supreme Court decision didn’t change the hearts and minds of Americans. It didn’t declare that the unborn have a constitutional right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. It was only the beginning.

The American Anglican Council remains strongly entrenched in the pro-life movement, which is evident from our Daniel Declaration, where we say:

“All human life is a sacred gift from God and intrinsically valuable; its value is not contingent on its utility. Human life is to be protected and defended from conception to natural death. We will uphold the sanctity and inviolability of life and bring the grace and compassion of Christ to those who face the realities of previous abortion, unwanted pregnancy, and end-of-life illness.”

Through scripture, tradition, and reason we know that abortion is and will always be a great evil, and we will never change that stance. We also know that sincere Christians are confused on this issue and may disagree, to one degree or another, and that many are trying to understand the place of religious convictions in public policy. Just how the pro-life movement applies these truths, which are found in God, to American law is up for debate and we, at the AAC, are up for facilitating those discussions.

To that end, we commend to you a sermon given by one of our own trustees, the Rev. Paul Donison, rector of Christ Church in Plano, TX on the dignity of every human life. It is here that the conversation on abortion must truly begin; not on the legality of abortion but on the value of every human being. Once such a foundation is laid, a clearer way forward in building public policy can be found. In this sermon, the Rev. Donison reminds us that every human life is dearly beloved by God. From the first chapter of Genesis we see the profound dignity of our creation in God’s image. And it is Jesus in the New Testament who shows us to what lengths God continues to love us, not only taking on our human form but also surrendering his life to save us. To understand such love, to celebrate the sanctity of life, we must likewise uphold and rescue those among us who are weak, vulnerable, and poor, and we are reminded that being pro-life means more than just picketing for legal change. It means bringing life to all those around us who are enslaved to darkness and death. 

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