Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - May/68

Contributor - John J. Opmeer

Title - Has The Church a Word To Say on Abortion?

Topic - Church In Canada

A CRUEL LAW?

You probably have been reading about the proposed change in the Criminal Code, dealing with abortion (the accepted term for an operation to end pregnancy). At the present time it is forbidden by law to perform abortion except for one reason to save the life of the mother. But if the mother's mental health is in danger as a result of the continued pregnancy, there is no protection for the mother. Neither does the law allow for any mercy in the case of pregnancy as a result of rape, nor in the case of the expectation of a deficient child as a result of disease during pregnancy.

As a result, many have called our present abortion law cruel, and have advocated a more merciful legislation. The proposal now before parliament is to widen grounds for legal abortion to include abortion in case of danger to the mother's physical or mental health. The present proposal is strongly supported by the Canadian Medical Association, the Canadian Bar Association and several churches (Anglican, Presbyterian, United). The Roman Catholic Church is on the whole opposed to a more liberal abortion legislation.

NOT ALWAYS A CRIME

It is estimated that at least 100,000 illegal abortions are performed each year in Canada. This is a staggering figure, indicating that no matter what we think of the law on abortion, it is totally ineffective. Although this, by itself, is no argument to make legal abortion more easily available, it does point to a desperate situation, in which otherwise law abiding people are willing to commit what the law calls a crime. But is it a crime when a mother-to-be wants to prevent the birth of a deficient child? Is it a crime when the victim of rape refuses to accept the results of a crime inflicted on her?

The answers do not come easily. The whole subject is emotionally charged. You will find deep differences of opinion among Christians. Moreover, most ministers are inclined to avoid speaking out on a subject which is so much 'in the twilight zone of Christian principles, and is so far removed from the glorious Gospel of new life in Christ. And yet, we must speak out on this issue, because it is a matter of life and death for hundreds of thousands, a matter also on which many look to the church for guidance.

A STATEMENT OF PRINCIPLE

How can we make up our minds as Christians? First should come our conviction that life is a gift of God, over which we have been placed as stewards, not as masters. This means that the general principle should be: no abortion. However, there are situations in life when a choice must be made between two, evils, a greater and a lesser. And it is possible that in certain circumstances abortion is the lesser evil. Most Protestant churches, therefore, have pressed for a law which allows legal abortion, in case of certain exceptional circumstances, even though such churches are well aware of the danger that a more liberal abortion law opens the door to abuse.

Since many of our members may wonder what position the Reformed Church is taking on this matter, I would like to close with the statement of principle adopted by the Christian Action Committee Of General Synod (but not yet by General Synod itself). The references are to the American situation, which is very much alike to the Canadian.

"The sanctity of human life is of paramount concern in Christian theology and teaching, although there are strong differences in belief about the point at which human life does, in fact, begin. Still, there are considerations - profound considerations of charity - that may dictate that a pregnancy should be terminated for the sake of the mother or the child that may be born, or both, and we are of the firm position that the present laws in the majority of states governing abortion are unduly restrictive and uncharitable.

We, therefore, record our conviction that the laws of the states governing abortion should be amended along the lines recommended by the American Law Institute in its Model Penal Code, permitting termination of pregnancy where. the decision to terminate has been arrived at with prior safeguards against abuse. This 'Code' would permit abortions in licensed hospitals where two or more physicians agree that (1) the pregnancy would gravely impair the physical or mental health of the mother; (2) the child would likely be born with grave physical or mental defects; or (3) the pregnancy resulted from rape or incest."

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