Church leaders across SD encourage a YES vote on 11

Hundreds of pastors and priests throughout the state of South Dakota have risen up in defense of women and the unborn.  Bishop Swain has issued the following statement that will be given at every East River Catholic parish this weekend;

The following is just a sampling of what Protestant Church pastors are sending out to their congregations.  This went to the membership of Central Baptist Church here in Sioux Falls.  Thanks to Pastor James Petersen for his moral clarity at this key time.

In many newspapers throughout the state, area clergy have signed and placed full page ads in the newspaper. Here's the one that will appear in the Sunday Argus Leader tomorrow. Each pastors ad in each city is different  - looks different and says different stuff - there was no central push to be doing these. I'd appreciate people sending me the various ads they see pop up in South Dakota newspapers this weekend from clergy.  I'm NOT interested to be sent the ridiculous ads placed by the Pastors for IMMoral Choices.  I will post some hilarity on that later today or tomorrow.

It's hard to read so here's the main body of text:

Why can’t we love both? 

As church leaders in the Sioux Falls area, we affirm the Bible’s concern for women and the least of these – which includes the most vulnerable in our midst, the unborn child.

We affirm that God can fully redeem unfortunate circumstances and that abortion is unnecessary in part because the Church is a significant part of God’s provision to women and children in crisis.  Scripture calls this “pure religion.” James 1:27 talks about God’s concern for women without support and for children without parents who can care for them.

Like many South Dakotan’s we were shocked by the depositions of South Dakota women who testified in the Informed Consent case regarding how they were treated at the Planned Parenthood clinic in Sioux Falls – told to “shut up” and medicated when they started to cry – that there is no doctor-patient relationship except the 5-7 minutes during the “procedure” and then women are sent out the doors to deal with the aftermath alone. Planned Parenthood keeps no records, offers no follow up or aftercare of any sort after “the procedure,” nor is there ANY ongoing contact with ANY doctor or staff. The respectability façade surrounding Planned Parenthood is fast crumbling.

This treatment of women is unacceptable to people of faith and in good conscience we as church leaders cannot sit quiet while this continues in our midst.

Reminiscent of the days when the tobacco companies were telling us smoking wasn’t harmful, those who profit from abortion have come into our state dumping millions in ads aimed to continue abortion as a form a birth control.  We find it extremely callous and insensitive that those who profit from abortion dismiss the studies that show how abortion hurts women. As church leaders we are turning the tables over on those who profit at the expense of those who are the most needy.

We find it deceptive and hypocritical that those who are now saying “let families decide” are the very people who fight any form of family involvement and parental notification in abortion. Those who profit into the hundred of millions every year from abortion have executed a well-financed campaign saying “keep government out of the decision to abort” yet they depend on $335 million taxpayer dollars a year. Five judges gave America abortion on demand, not a popular vote. Citizens of South Dakota have the opportunity to undo what the government has done.

Since there is no wiggle room in Scripture, Church Tradition or theological reasoning with regard to the fact that abortion is a great moral evil, it follows it is immoral to do nothing to stop it when we have the ability and opportunity to do so. We encourage you to vote YES on Initiated Measure 11. 

It is NOT true that women in crisis pregnancies will have no where to turn when Initiated Measure 11 is passed in South Dakota. Hundreds of churches throughout our state have committed to come alongside every woman and child God leads our way, providing tangible support, long after the child is born.