Correspondence – Abortion Folder Citation: Collection: Records of the 1976 Campaign Committee to Elect Jimmy Carter; Series: Noel Sterrett Subject File; Folder: Correspondence – Abortion; Container 77 To See Complete Finding Aid: http://www.jimmycarterlibrary.gov/library/findingaids/Carter-Mondale%20Campaign_1976.pdf -,- •• < '' - '-� ,- "· .--::-- - ·.?-.. ); . ·.: - . ...!.. �·""".;.;.. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN THE UNITED STATES !341rk � � At�tJW, N.L AW., �SO!IE September 22, 1976 Governor Jimmy Carter Suite 2400 100 Colony Square Atlanta, Georgia 30361 Governor Carter: As members of the Task Force on Women of Atlanta Presbytery, of the Presbyterian Church in the United States, we are deeply concerned about reports of your recent dialogue regarding the abortion issue with the Roman Catholic bishops and indications that you may consider changes in your present position. We support the position of the General Assembly of our own Presbyterian Church, u.s., that the wilful termination of pregnancy by medical means on the considered decision of a pregnant woman may on occasion be morally justifiable.· Possible justifying circumstances would include medical indications of physical or mental d�formity, conception as a result of rape or incest, conditions under which the physical or mental health of the mother or child would be gravely threatened, or the socio­ economic condition of the family. Because we believe in religious freedom, we urge you not to take any position on abortion that will infringe on the personal moral choice of citizens. We do not believe any legis­ lation should reflect a particular religious doctrine but rather should protect the free exercise of the religious views of all. We urge you not to support a constitutional amendment repealing the Supreme Court decision and to oppose the efforts of others to do so. Wecwould like the opportunity to discuss this with you. r� Sylvia Kelley, �airperson Atlanta Presbytery Task Force on Women SK/hc 400 Glen Arden Place, N.W. Atlanta, Georgia 30305 (404) 266-1695 A Social Pronouncement of the Presbyterian Church in the United States Adopted by the 1970 General Assembly ABORTION offense. Although many of the early be given to the question as to when I. Introduction Greek philosophers commended abor· human life begins, and hence are There is widespread uncertainty tion when the age or economic unwilling to assert categorically that among Christians today about the circumstances of the parents neces­ the fertilized egg is a human being in complex moral issues involved in sitated it, the Hippocratic Oath quite the fullest sense. Concerned not only about the morality of requiring abortion and the laws regulating early affirmed the medical pro­ women to bear children conceived as abortion. Debate concerning proposed fessions's pledge "not to give to a . the result of criminal acts, but also the revision of existing abortion laws in woman an abortive remedy." potentialities for full personhood for twenty;five st�tte legislatures has raised The early church condemned abor· an unwanted or gravely deformed serious questions about states which tion on the grounds that it constituted child, these Christians see the problem forbid qualified physicians from termi­ murder. This raised for subsequent in the larger context of responsible nating unwanted pregnancies and turn generations of theologians the ques­ parenthood and the wholeness of thousands of women into felons tion of the stage of development at family life. Subsequent medical ad· because they have had illegal which the fetus becomes a person. vances have made it possible to predict abortions. Publicity about disabilites Augustine's distinction between a physical deformity and mental retar· or deaths resulting from illegal abor· "non-animated" and "animated" fetus l dation and to terminate an unwanted tions, the increasing number of per· was formalized in Roman Catho ic Canon Law and later carried into pregnancy without endangering the sons seeking "therapeutic abortions," English Common Law. Thomas life of the mother. Thus abortion has and the realiution that many well-to­ Aquinas further refined this dis· become a genuine alternative to many do American . women receive legal tinction by teaching that life is unwed mothers and married women abortions overseas, have focused evidenced by "knowledge and move­ desiring to limit the size of their public attention on this prQblem. ment," thus providing the test of families or to avoid the anguish of Pastors and friends have experiences "quickening" or movement within the bearing seriously defective children. frustration in their attempts to counsel persons ·involved in "problem preg· womb as the determination of when a fetus should be regarded as a person. nancies," The changing role of women III. TheCurrent Situation has produced -a desire on their part for Interruption of pregnancy before Recent efforts at legislation reform greater self-determination in accepting "quickening" was thus permissible have led ten states to revise their laws their rol� as mothers and/or wage under English Common Law. Yet by in order to permit therapeutic abor­ earners. In these and other ways, the maintaining that "the soul is infused tions to protect the mental and moral questions surrounding .abortion immediately at the moment of con­ physical health of women to prevent have been thrust upon us. ception," most Roman Catholics re· garded willful abortion as a sin, the birth of deformed children, and II. Changing Perspectives regardless of the stage of fetal incases of rape or incest. Yet such Througti History development. "reforms" have not substantially re· Throughout the thirty centuries of The unqualified condemnation of duced the numbe� of illegal abortions. recorded history, the interruption of abortion has been questioned in recent There is growing evidence ·that such pregnancy, whether intentional or decades by many Christians, Pro­ laws discriminate in favor of the rich accidental, has been widely, though testant and Roman Catholic alike, who and are of little help to women who not universally, regarded as a serious are less certain that a clear answer can lack the money or power to pP.rsuade 2) At the same time, Biblical faith take precedence over thy needs of ali the required number of doctors that depicts man as a steward of life, the embryonic and unformed child, and they qualify for a legal abortion. heir who is responsible for the proper the rights of the individual woman, her Another approach to reform can be care of his Father's world. A sense of family, and society, as well as the found in the courts where it has been responsibility for the care of God's rights of the fetus should be con­ held recently that antiabortion laws world leads men of faith not only to sidered in each individual case. represent an unconstitutional infringe­ an exploration of all of creation but to endeavors to maintain order, ment on individual women's rights to also V. Summary medical care. Those responsible for secure justice, and improve the quality I) Induced abortion is the willful such litigation insist that abortion of human life. Because human life, in destruction of the fetus. Therefore, should be available to all women who the Biblical sense, is much more than the decision to terminate a pregnancy desire it, to the poor and single as well the perpetuation of physical existence, should never be made lightly or in as to the affluent and married. Hence men of faith should commit them­ haste. they propose that the regulation of selves to improving its quality 2) The willful termination of abortion should be removed from the spiritually, educationally, and cultu­ pregnancy by medical means on the criminal code and treated like other rally as well as medically. This considered decision of a pregnant standard medical procedures, with the commitment will often necessitate woman may on occasion be morally decision solely in the hands of the difficult moral choice in the midst of justifiable. Possible justifying circum" patient and her licensed doctor. conflicting values. stances would include medical indi­ However reform comes - whether 3) Biblical faith emphasizes the cations' of physical or mental deformi" through legislation or litigation - it is need for personal moral choice, and ty, conception as a result of rape or clear that attitudes toward abortion holds that persons stand ultimately incest, conditions under which the laws are shifting, and Christians ·are accountable to God for their moral physical or mental health of either being asked to clarify where they choices. If persons are to exercise their stand and what li�t their Biblical freedom responsibly, acceptable alter­ mother or child. would be gravely ' faith sheds upon decision making in natives must be available to them. The threatened , or the socio-economic this area. church has a responsibility to help condition of the ·family. The pro­ make acceptable alternatives available. cedure should be performed �>nly by Moreover, the church has a responsi­ licensed physicians under optimal IV. Bib tical and Theological Insights bility to aid persons as they exercise conditions and with appropriate medi­ cal consultation and ministerial coun­ Because this is a matter of life and their moral freedom, which it can seling, preferably by her own minister. death, and involves questions about fulfill through such means as pro­ 3) the quality of life and the conditions claiming the Biblical faith, clarifying Laws concerning abortion should in which make life genuinely human, few alternatives and their probably conse­ reflect principles set forth this moral decisions are more difficult and quences, and offering support in love paper. 4) complex than the ones surrounding to persons struggling with difficult Medical intervention should be abortion. The following Biblical and choices. Christians should make their made available to all who desire and theological insights seem particularly personal decisions in the context of qualify for it, not just to those who helpful as we struggle with these the community of faith.