by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
January 24, 2008
Albany, NY (LifeNews.com) -- In an act that is sure to generate guffaws from the pro-life community, a group of pro-abortion clergy in Schenectady held a ceremony at a local abortion business to bless it and call it "sacred ground." Religious officials who are pro-life call the ceremony sacrilegious by blessing a place that kills the life God creates.
Rev. Larry Phillips of Schenectady's Emmanuel-Friedens Church dedicated the ground, according to a report in the Albany Times Union.
He called the abortion facility "sacred and holy ... where women's voices and stories are welcomed, valued and affirmed."
Phillips said the abortion business was "sacred ground where women are treated with dignity, supported in their role as moral decision-makers ... sacred ground where the violent voices of hatred and oppression are quelled."
Another minister prayed for safety for the abortion business and a local rabbi blew a shofar to dedicate the building as an honorable place in the community.
Planned Parenthood spokeswoman Linda Scharf told the newspaper that "It's a blessing to demonstrate the support of the clergy."
"The clergy were instrumental in getting abortion services legalized in the United States and right here in Schenectady," she added. "I know a member of the clergy who was part of an underground who directed young women to safe abortions before Roe v. Wade."
But Kathleen Gallagher of the New York State Catholic Conference told the Albany Times Union that the blessing is hypocritical.
"My gut reaction is that it's two-faced," Gallagher said.
"For many years abortion proponents have been saying this is not a religious issue, you should keep religion out of this, and now all of a sudden they turn around and decide to bless an abortion clinic to gain respect for a procedure everybody knows is not worthy of respect," Gallagher added.
ACTION: Send your complaints to Rev. Larry Phillips, c/o Emmanuel Baptist-Friedens United Church of Christ, 218 Nott Terrace Schenectady, NY 12305, Phone 518-374-4114 or email ebcfried@nycap.rr.com
