Archbishop of Canterbury: "We Cannot Regard Unborn Children as Less Than Members Of The Human Family"
Pro-life message in official Christmas greeting to Anglicans
By John-Henry Westen
LONDON, December 17, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) - In a Christmas greeting sent Monday to the 70-million strong Anglican Communion, the Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams included a decidedly pro-life message. While his ambivalence on homosexuality has contributed to the near-collapse of the Communion, Williams' pro-life stance was welcomed at his installation as head of the Anglican Communion.
"God chose to show himself to us in a complete human life, telling us that every stage in human existence, from conception to maturity and even death, was in principle capable of telling us something about God," reads the 2008 Christmas message.
"Hence the reverence which as Christians we ought to show to human beings in every condition, at every stage of existence. This is why we cannot regard unborn children as less than members of the human family, why those with disabilities or deprivations have no less claim upon us than anyone else, why we try to makes loving sense of human life even when it is near its end and we can hardly see any signs left of freedom or thought."
On his installation in 2002, the UK Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC), welcomed the choice of "a life-member of the Society" as Archbishop. John Smeaton, national director, said at the time: "We are delighted to see that someone of such positive pro-life views ... the example he gives of Christian witness to the sanctity of human life whether unborn or born will inspire other Anglicans throughout the world to recognise that society must foster a loving and supportive environment for the weakest and most vulnerable of the human race."
See the full Christmas message here:
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/dec/08121708.html
