Blessing an abortion clinic may seem antithetical to religious beliefs about the sanctity of life.
But various religious leaders came together to do just that on Tuesday at Planned Parenthood’s newest abortion facility in Washington, D.C.
DCist reports religious leaders representing more than 20 groups participated in the ceremony inside the new mega-facility, which opened in September. The new abortion facility is located next to the Two Rivers Public Charter School, a sought-after elementary school in D.C, much to the outrage of pro-lifers and parents.
“In almost every message to our staff, I talk about our doing sacred work,” Dr. Laura Meyers, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan Washington, told the news outlet. “This confirms the sacredness of the work we do.”
Later, she said pro-lifers “tried to separate those of us working on or supporting the right of women to choose a from a sense of deep spirituality. So today is a shift in that narrative.”
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Here’s more from the report:
Before the ceremony kicked off, religious leaders gathered upstairs for their own prayer circle, led by Rabbi Michael Namath. The program director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism called upon their obligation to the world to “make it whole and holy.”
Then the formal event began, featuring leaders from different Christian denominations, a rabbi, abortion providers, a Planned Parenthood patient, Hindu priests, an Imam over Skype, visual art, and a liturgical dance.
“I’ve been a Christian longer than I’ve been an abortion provider,” said Willie Parker, who is about as close as the reproductive choice movement gets to a rock star. “Women have been made to think that this [clinic] is some evil place, where God is not,” he continued, pointing out the people “cursing [women] for making sacred decisions. Our answer to the curse is to bless.”
Planned Parenthood medical director Serina Floyd said she plans to tell patients that the abortion facility is a “blessed space” and that “those of faith also support your decisions.”
The group ended by singing “This Little Light of Mine” together, according to the report.
The so-called “sacredness” and “blessing” that the abortion group offers is taking advantage of vulnerable women and killing their unborn babies. In the eyes of many religious leaders and groups, the destruction of innocent life is evil.
Judeo-Christian beliefs teach that human life is sacred from its beginning at conception until natural death, because all lives are created in the image of God. Based on Islamic teachings, Muslims also generally oppose abortion, and many Islamic nations prohibit abortions in all or most circumstances.
Since learning about the new D.C. mega-facility, pro-lifers in the city have been working in various ways to protect babies and moms from the abortion expansion. Prayer vigils and protests, sidewalk counseling efforts and increased access to life-affirming support all have been part of pro-lifers’ efforts to help unborn babies and moms in the city.
