[Stengapsept]

Dear Scott,

Some very moving and distressing things here.

But can I say that we perhaps need a little caution with the way we express our thoughts here? Something very powerful such as this:
In contrast to the repentant mother who yearns for mercy, above and to the right of her, is a series of women, who purposely and intently present their infants for slaughter for various worldly reasons; uncontrolled sensuality, hard-heartedness, superficiality and indifference. could easily lead someone to suppose that this amounted to a condemnation of the women. As a man I get uneasy making any assumptions about women who find themselves in this situation, and think we need to show Christian charity in our utterances. Are many women really indifferent to the fate of their unborn child?

How far, as Andreas implies, they are pushed this way by a society that describes abortion as a 'life-style choice', we cannot know. We do know that very many women have great trauma after having an abortion. We know that in our society there can be many pressures on women at this vulnerable time, and that not all of them have the reassurance of a husband or male partner willing to stand with them; we know how many and how various the pressures to which they are subject.

I may be wrong, but I prefer to assume the best, and to think that much can be done if care, support, and love are offered to women who come to this dark and lonely place.

So, my dear Scott, I am in entire agreement with your abhorrence of the sin, but would ask us all to consider our language and the impression we can give - especially in a discussion carried on mainly by men.

But none of this is to detract from your powerful message.

In Christ,

John