Pastors and Abortion: Part II

By Ernest L. Ohlhoff, Director of Outreach

In the January issue of NRL News, we discussed the most common reason why pastors are hesitant to preach on the abortion issue - - namely because they were afraid of hurting members of their church who have had or participated in an abortion.

But there are other reasons why pastors, who are seemingly pro- life, avoid preaching about abortion. Some of these reasons include:

1. Avoiding the issue because it is perceived to be a " political issue" and could affect their church's tax-exempt status.

2. Considering the issue a "personal woman's decision" and not an issue to be publicly discussed.

3. Avoiding the pro-life issue because it is perceived to be part of the "extreme conservative agenda."

4. Believing that the members of their congregation would never consider or participate in an abortion.

5. Believing that their "pro-choice" congregation would fire them if they preached a pro-life sermon.

6. Suffering from personal guilt because he or she (the pastor) has at one time counseled in favor of abortion.

These reasons, while they are very real to the pastors, are often hidden and not openly discussed. It will be your job to be the skillful interviewer who lovingly evokes the reasons why a pastor is reluctant. Be a very good listener. Try to see beyond the obvious reactions in order to understand the more subtle reasons in the pastor's mind.

In most of these cases you will be faced with a long-term effort to, first, clearly understand the pastor's reason or reasons for avoiding the issue and then second, to find ways of working with him to help him become publicly pro-life.

Issue #1 - Abortion is a "political issue" and if I speak against abortion it might let the IRS take away my church's tax-exempt status. This is a very real fear for many pastors. Pro-abortion leaders and often the media have been very skillful in continually cautioning pastors about the possibility of violating IRS regulations by even mentioning abortion.

In reality, abortion is as much a moral issue as discrimination, child abuse, poverty, terrorism, sexual abuse, etc. And yet, pastors have been led to believe that the abortion issue is somehow different.

If you find your pastor has a concern about abortion and its possible consequences with the IRS, contact the Outreach Department at National Right to Life and obtain a copy of the NRLC General Counsel's outline on what churches are permitted to do. Read it yourself and then give a copy to your pastor. If you still have trouble, try to find a local pro-life attorney, preferably one in the pastor's own church, and arrange for him to meet with the pastor.

Issue #2 - I believe abortion is a "personal woman's decision" and should not be discussed publicly.

Understanding this concern will take a great deal of patience. And in some cases, even after repeated meetings and discussions, you may not be able to identify the root cause of your pastor's concerns.

Your greatest ally in this situation will be the witness of a woman who has had an abortion and has gone through post-abortion syndrome counseling. Ideally, she should be someone in the pastor's own congregation. If no one is available, try to find someone from another church - - preferably within the pastor's own denomination.

Issue #3 - Abortion is an issue used to promote an "extreme conservative agenda."

Your strategy here should be to convince the pastor that abortion is both a moral issue and a true human rights issue. Mention liberals who have supported the pro-life position including: the late Governor Robert Casey from Pennsylvania, and Congressman James Oberstar of Minnesota.

Stress the need to focus the abortion issue on the spiritual aspects and in the context of the biblical teaching on the sanctity of human life.

Human life in the womb is real. Abortion deliberately destroys a living baby. Abortion is wrong. Women who have abortions often have medical and psychological complications, etc.

Issue #4 - The people who attend my church would never consider or participate in an abortion - - it is simply not an issue.

This may sound like a very unlikely reason, but I have personally had a few pastors give me this very reason.

Unfortunately, there probably are people in the church who have had or have been involved in abortion, but the pastor just doesn't realize it.

Consider two different tactics in dealing with a pastor who feels his church will never be touched by abortion.

First, prove him wrong by finding one or more women from his church who have had abortions and gently disabuse him of the notion that his church is not affected by abortion.

Second, discuss with him the social and spiritual damage that abortion has wreaked on our culture. Share with him the relevant facts about abortion: the number of abortions in our country, your state, your county, and your town, and the tragic effect abortion has on women and men.

Review the basic facts of fetal development and how abortions are performed. Make abortion real to your pastor and try to convince him or her that it is the duty of all people of faith to speak out on this critical issue. Energize your pastor to motivate the members of his or her church to become active in the pro-life movement.

Issue #5 - My "pro-choice" congregation would fire me if I preached a pro-life sermon.

This is a tough situation and a real problem for many pastors. My suggestion is that you encourage them to begin to preach about abortion very gradually, perhaps beginning with a sermon on alternatives to abortion and gradually work into post- abortion syndrome.

Try to find some pro-life supporters in the church and encourage them to talk one-on-one with the "pro-choice" members. It has been our experience that many people who say they are "pro-choice" simply do not understand the full ramifications of the issue.

One approach would be to start with the hard cases. Try explaining to them how partial-birth abortions are performed, that minor children can be taken out of school for an abortion without parental knowledge or consent, that abortion providers do not have to provide even basic information to a woman about the abortion or possible complications, or that most abortions in the United States are performed as a means of birth control. In many cases, people will say they are no longer "pro-choice" based on this new information.

Above all, support your pastor. Do not try to accomplish too much, too fast. Build a strong base of support for your pastor with those in your church who are pro-life and then begin to encourage your pastor to become more public in small steps. Also, try to find other pro-life pastors in your area, preferably within your denomination, and ask them to encourage your pastor. Peer support can mean a great deal to a pastor who needs support.

Issue #6 - Personal guilt - I have counseled many women who chose abortion. In some cases I believe it was the right decision.

This is the toughest case of all. You are not starting at square one. You are starting in a negative position. Your pastor is personally involved with abortion in his own ministry. He may have post-abortion syndrome himself. He may be in denial and trying to justify his previous counseling for abortion by continuing to support it as an option.

Try to find a woman in your church who was counseled by your pastor, had the abortion, and has gone through post-abortion syndrome counseling. Let her tell him that her decision was wrong and how much she suffered because of it.

Also, try to find other pro-life pastors to approach your pastor and discuss the abortion issue on your pastor to pastor basis.

Another approach would be to find a pro-life theologian or clinical psychologist who can explain the spiritual or psychological aspects of abortion.

By all means go slow with a pastor in this situation. Your goal is to convert your pastor with love and understanding and not reinforce her denial.

The Outreach Department at National Right to Life has a wide variety of books, pamphlets, and other resources that can help you educate yourself and your pastor. In addition, we may be able to help you locate pro-life experts or post-abortive women within your denomination to help you with testimony or strategies that will ultimately help your pastor become more pro-life.