Top Scottish Cardinal attacks Catholic politicians for backing abortion

[DigitaLVampirE]

The leader of Scotland's Roman Catholics has launched a fierce attack on politicians who back abortion.

Cardinal Keith O'Brien, the country's most senior Catholic, is urging them to stop co-operating in what he calls an "unspeakable crime".

He also warned Catholic politicians of "the barrier such co-operation erects to receiving Holy Communion".

The cardinal also urged people to boycott politicians who do not speak out against the procedure, and calls on medical schools to change their teaching.

He added: "I urge politicians to have no truck with the evil trade of abortion. For those at Westminster this means finding means of overthrowing the legislation, which makes the killing possible.

"For those at Holyrood that means refusing to allow our health services to participate in the wanton killing of the innocent."

The sermon, delivered at St Mary's Cathedral in Edinburgh, added: "The scale of the killing is beyond our grasp. In Scotland we kill the equivalent of a classroom full of school children every day.

"Let us build up within our society a generation of medical professionals who are unwilling to co-operate in the slaughter.

"I call on our universities and medical schools to teach that all human life deserves protection.

"I call on all politicians to answer one simple question: will you protect the right to life of all persons in our society from conception until natural death?

"And I call on you to hold these elected representatives to account.

"For those unwilling to give this support we must be unwilling to give our vote."

He believes that abortion has become an alternative form of birth control for many women.

"Abortions to save the life of a woman are almost unheard of," it says. "As a society we wilfully ignore these realities."

His words, to mark the 40th anniversary of the 1967 Abortion Act come just two days after figures showed that the number of abortions carried out in Scotland is continuing to rise.

There were 13,081 therapeutic abortions performed in 2006, compared with 12,603 the previous year, according to the Scottish health statistics.

The rate is highest among women aged between 16-19 (24.1 per 1000) and those aged between 20-24 (23.6 per 1000).

Lower rates are seen in those aged between 25-29 (15.8 per 1000) and in women aged over 40 (2.1 per 1000).

Scottish minister for public health Shona Robison said the Executive is committed to improving Scotland's sexual health and reducing the number of unintended pregnancies through Respect and Responsibility, the national sexual health strategy.

The Scottish Executive was today considering the cardinal's remarks and made no immediate comment. But the cardinal's words were fiercely criticised by a Liberal Democrat MSP, Jeremy Purvis.

"I think it's very unfortunate that he has chosen to use extreme and provocative language, and a hectoring and bullying tone against MSPs and MPs who every day balance their own consciences against what they think are the best interests of their constituents," said Mr Purvis.

And the cardinal's call for Holyrood to "refuse to allow" the health service to participate in abortion would be rightly rejected, said Mr Purvis, MSP for Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale.

"I hope he will reflect on the extreme tone of the language", said the MSP, pointing to the cardinal's reference to abortion killing the equivalent of a classroom full of children every day.

Mr Purvis said religious leaders often advised care in how politicians handled difficult subjects.

"He has fallen way short of what religious leaders often say about the proper conduct of sensitive matters." mfl

But the cardinal was defended by Labour MSP Michael McMahon.

"The Pope made this announcement when he visited Brazil some months ago, and all the Cardinal is doing is reiterating the position of the Catholic Church," said Mr McMahon, MSP for Hamilton North and Bellshill.

"The Catholic Church doesn't bend or sway to meet the position of individual politicians, doctors, or anyone, when it comes to life issues. "Why would anyone consider it unusual for the Catholic Church to reiterate its 2,000-year-old position?

"I don't know what people get so worked up about. "Catholics are only ever required to go with their own consciences - to assess things from their own perspective and use their conscience as a guide.

"I don't seen how anything that the Pope or Cardinal O'Brien has said changes that - that has been the position of the Catholic Church for 2,000 years."

By This is London
31.05.07

Scottish cardinal preaches on abortion

Scottish cardinal challenges politicians on abortion

MPs who back abortion should be banned from Communion, says Catholic leader

[Polwarth]

He can aim his mumbo-jumbo to his flock. The rest of us will choose our own methods of birth control.

[kathyv]

Another example of man's law rather than God's law. . .


If a woman choses to have an abortion, whatever the reason, it's between her and her God. No man has the right to tell her she is condemned.

[DigitaLVampirE]

"If men who are fighting hit a pregnant woman and she gives birth prematurely [Hebrew: "so that her child comes out"], but there is no serious injury, the offender must be fined whatever the woman’s husband demands and the court allows. But if there is serious injury, you are to take life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot" Exodus 21:22–24

This passage clearly tells us the law of retribution. Focusing greatly on a baby's life. If the baby dies, then so should the assailant be given the death penalty. God is saying that the value and worth of an adult man is equal to the value and worth of an unborn fetus who was young enough, or injured enough, to die.

"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well." Psalm 139:13-14

"Did not He who made me in the womb make them [Job's servants]? Did not the Same One for us both within our mothers?" Job 31:15

The passage clearly states even unborn babies are special to God. We were formed directly by God before we were born.

"When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit." Luke 1:41

Here an unborn "fetus" is referred to as a "baby". The Bible makes no distinction, and has no separate word for a baby who is unborn, versus a baby who is born.

"For whoever finds me [the wisdom of God] finds life and receives favor from the LORD. But whoever fails to find me harms himself; all who hate me love death." Proverbs 8:35-36


Last but not least, here's what most "modern" doctors have completely forgotten about or have "revised" the original Hippocratic Oath:

1. "I swear by Apollo, Asclepius, Hygieia, and Panacea, and I take to witness all the gods, all the goddesses, to keep according to my ability and my judgment, the following Oath.
2. To consider dear to me as my parents him who taught me this art; to live in common with him and if necessary to share my goods with him; To look upon his children as my own brothers, to teach them this art I will prescribe regimens for the good of my patients according to my ability and my judgment and never do harm to anyone.
   
3. To please no one will I prescribe a deadly drug nor give advice which may cause his death.
   
4. Nor will I give a woman a pessary to procure abortion.
   
5. But I will preserve the purity of my life and my arts.
   
6. I will not cut for stone, even for patients in whom the disease is manifest; I will leave this operation to be performed by practitioners, specialists in this art.
   
7. In every house where I come I will enter only for the good of my patients, keeping myself far from all intentional ill-doing and all seduction and especially from the pleasures of love with women or with men, be they free or slaves.
   
8. All that may come to my knowledge in the exercise of my profession or in daily commerce with men, which ought not to be spread abroad, I will keep secret and will never reveal.
   
9. If I keep this oath faithfully, may I enjoy my life and practice my art, respected by all men and in all times; but if I swerve from it or violate it, may the reverse be my lot."

Minus the praising of Greek deities, anyone in the simplest mind can see the true honour and respect a doctor has, but these days, doctors choose to have contradictory versions of the oath.

Another thing you seem to have conveniently overlooked is that the Cardinal was not condemning women who sought abortion. He was criticizing a society so warped in its thinking that even murder is acceptable. Apparently, such folks are not aware of the Fifth Commandment.

"There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers." Proverbs 6:16-19

Unless of course, you agree with the ones who think all this is mere "mambo-jumbo".

[DigitaLVampirE]

Abortion: An Orthodox View

What About Abortion - Lutheran Church

Church Of England

Church of Scotland

Even Hinduism, Buddhism and Islam condemns the practise of abortion. The only ones who have no official stance or lack of respect for human lives are the sectarian groups.

[Polwarth]

For goodness sake, DV... why keep prosletysing here? Many of your posts fall on totally deaf ears.

OK, OK, we get IT - you're a Catholic - BUT frankly.... get yourself some leaflets and stand on a street corner and try converting folk - OR, get yourself a blog and print your views for those who might be interested in searching for views.

Let's be honest - you hadn't posted here for yonks and then you come back, bombard this board with anti-Muslim, pro-Catholic posts, get irritated when those who hold contradictory views to yours feel moved to post.

You may be the Mod on this board - but you need to be aware about local (ie Scottish) sensibilities about religion when posting these sorts of topics.

Oh, and just so you know... the correct term is mUmbo jumbo (a Mambo is a dance, I believe)

[DigitaLVampirE]

Excuse me Polwath? I am posting what the general media is talking about. Too much on Catholic emphasis? Hey, don't blame me, blame the media who loves to potray the Catholic Church or Islam in whatever way they can. Anti-Muslim? Hardly, my dear Atheist. Besides, if you still do not see it, i post contents from all over the world. Not just Scotland (which i do also). I may not have been posting for months, (some of us do have lives outside the forums ) but that does not take away my rights to post something here for everyone to read (Whether they like it or not - as long as it does not promote hatred). This Board isn't just for Atheists to condemn religious views only. Folks here with religious beliefs tolerate the often rude nonsense Atheists spew. If we can live with it, so can you. Get over it.