Anglican House of Bishops Clarifies Church's Position on Abortion
http://archives.anglican.ca/en/permalink/official6813
- Date
- 1985 February 20
- Source
- Anglican News Service
- Record Type
- Press Release
- Text
- Toronto - Enclosed is a statement issued on Feb. 14, 1985 by the House of Bishops of the Anglican Church of Canada. It will appear in the March issue of the Church's national newspaper the Canadian Churchman.
- As a further Anglican resource on the question two study guides published by the Church are available from the Anglican Book Centre, 600 Jarvis St., Toronto. They are:
- Abortion: An Issue for Conscience ($6.95)
- The Abortion Question ($2.25)
- Note: These are NOT policy statements, they are published, as Archbishop Scott says in a forward, to "assist in your continuing reflections"...on "a serious and complex issue."
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- For further information, please contact
- Richard Berryman
- Media Officer
- Notes
- Statement from the House of Bishops of the Anglican Church of Canada meeting in Mississauga, Ontario February 14, 1985
- In response to current public concern about abortion, the House of Bishops of the Anglican Church of Canada has expressed its continuing support for the position previously stated by the Church.
- The Bishops draw attention to a statement presented in 1967 to the Federal Standing Committee on Health and Welfare on behalf of the Anglican Church of Canada.
- "We assert the general inviolability of the foetus and defend, as a first principle, its right to live and develop. We lay the burden of proof to the contrary on those who, in particular cases, wish to extinguish that right on the ground that it is in conflict with another right having a greater claim to recognition...We recommend that the only grounds justifying abortion to which the criminal code should refer should be serious threat to the life or health of the expectant mother...In cases where abortion is not indicated, the expectant mother should be given access to the skilled supportive services which can afford her the encouragement and help which she may need to continue the pregnancy and care for the child."
- The House feels strongly that this statement expresses its mind at the present time and is the position from which further discussion of the issue should proceed.
- The Bishops also draw attention to the resolution adopted in 1980 by the General Synod of the Anglican Church of Canada:
- "That this General Synod, in proclaiming a Gospel of Life and Hope and Compassion for all of God's people, rejects the principle of 'abortion on demand' or for the reasons of convenience or economic or social hardship, and commits itself to strong support of:
- a) such educational programs in the Church and comparable secular agencies which exist or may exist in the future for family life, birth control and social responsibility;
- b) effective action to provide skilled counselling for families and individuals facing unwanted pregnancy;
- c) community responsibility to ensure adequate practical help in the care and nurture of children."
- This resolution is the official position of the Anglican Church of Canada.
- Subjects
- Abortion - Religious aspects - Anglican Church of Canada
- Bioethics - Religious aspects - Anglican Church of Canada
- Anglican Church of Canada. House of Bishops
- Abortion - Law and legislation - Canada
- Birth control - Religious aspects - Anglican Church of Canada
- Contraception - Religious aspects - Anglican Church of Canada