In this brief but candid radio conversation available for anytime listening, Catholic Archbishop Robert Carlson of St. Louis expresses his shock and opposition to the St. Louis Board of Aldermen for “… considering an ordinance (Board Bill 203) that attacks the most deeply held moral and religious convictions of the people of this great city. This proposed ordinance seeks to make St. Louis a sanctuary city for abortion, an act that kills innocent unborn children. This is not what our city should stand for; rather, St. Louis should be a sanctuary for life and compassion, especially compassion for mothers and their developing children. “
Archbishop Carlson urges the citizens of St. Louis … and others … to call 314 622-3287, to express to their alderman their convections/concerns on Board Bill 203.
The Missouri Synod Lutherans of Missouri have joined Archbishop Carlson in such opposition of such a horrible proposal.
And the national Southern Baptist Convention in Annual session made clear – reaffirmed several times — its opposition to the killing of unborn children. For a clear explanation of it, titled … “Dr. Larry Lewis led USA’s largest protestant denomination to commit to saving unborn children” can be heard anytime by clicking on … http://haroldhendrick.com/content/view/615/5/.
In the discussion, Archbishop Carlson quotes the inspired writings of the Psalmist: “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful.” (Psalm 139: 13, 14).
And we looked to the call of God to Jeremiah. “Before I [God] formed you in the womb, I knew you; before you were born, I set you apart. I appointed you a prophet to the nations.” (Jeremiah 1:5 – underlining mine.) Five times the Creator God uses the personal pronoun of human personhood … “you” … in referring to unformed, unborn children! And God says in His word that He is the One doing the forming of unborn children.
None of us should be about destroying unborn human children that God Himself has formed. In doing so, we are killing the works of God!
(In this radio discussion I referenced the following powerful story. Several years ago when calling for a favorable vote on certain pro-life legislation on the Missouri Senate floor, then Senator Delbert Scott told on the Senate floor of a young St. Joseph, Mo, woman in 1905 becoming pregnant without a husband. Instead of having an abortion, she took her baby by train to Kansas City to find a good home for her. Senator Scott told his Senate colleagues that the surviving baby was his grandmother! She was to have seven children, the oldest of whom was the Senator’s father. And now Senator Scott’s son, Todd Scott (who would not be alive if that baby had been aborted) is a pro-life attorney on the staff of newly elected Missouri Governor Gretchins. The obvious lesson: approximately 100 people would not have been born if the baby had been aborted! To hear then Senator Scott – now college president — tell the story in his own words, titled …“Pregnant, unmarried in 1905, she chose life for her baby; Senator Scott talks of his great-grandma!” … click on … http://haroldhendrick.com/content/view/730/5.)
The full statement of Archbishop Carlson is cited below:
“ST. LOUIS – Most Reverend Robert J. Carlson, Archbishop of St. Louis, issued the following statement in regards to a proposed ordinance in the City of St. Louis:
The Board of Aldermen of the City of St. Louis is considering an ordinance (Board Bill 203) that attacks the most deeply held moral and religious convictions of the people of this great city. This proposed ordinance seeks to make St. Louis a sanctuary city for abortion, an act that kills innocent unborn children. This is not what our city should stand for; rather, St. Louis should be a sanctuary for life and compassion, especially compassion for mothers and their developing children.
Board Bill 203 is vague and ambiguous but could have terrible consequences for religious institutions. For example, a Catholic school or Catholic Charities agency could be fined by the City of St. Louis for not employing persons who publicly promote practices such as abortion. In addition, our Catholic institutions could be fined for not including coverage for abortion in their insurance plans.
Board Bill 203 could also allow the City of St. Louis to fine landlords and others who do not want to rent to or be associated with the abortion industry. This proposed ordinance, therefore, would force the people of St. Louis to be complicit in the profound evil of abortion. This would be a flagrant violation of religious liberty and individual rights of conscience.
I urge the citizens of St. Louis to oppose Board Bill 203. Protection and care for human life at all stages of development from conception until natural death is a fundamental moral value shared by Catholics as well as many other people of faith. City ordinances should respect all people, including women facing unplanned pregnancies, unborn children, and people who desire to live their lives in accordance with their religious convictions.
As the shepherd of the faithful Catholics of this region, let me be clear that the Archdiocese of St. Louis cannot and will not comply with any ordinance like Board Bill 203 that attempts to force the Church and others to become unwilling participants in the abortion business. There is no room for compromise on such a matter. This is a matter of fundamental religious and moral beliefs.
Rather than aiding and abetting the abortion industry, the archdiocese, through its various ministries and programs, will continue to extend both spiritual and material assistance to all those in need, especially the poor and those women facing crisis pregnancies who feel they have no one else to turn to for help—both during their pregnancies as well as after their child is born.
I urge the St. Louis Board of Aldermen to defeat Board Bill 203. I appeal to the humanity and the love of all freedom-loving citizens of St. Louis to make their voices heard in defense of human life.”
Sadly, as it turned out, after this recording was broadcast on Bott Radio Network-owned KSIV-AM (1320) the St. Louis Board of Aldermen approved bill 203 by a vote of 17 – 10. The pro-abortion legislation … at least temporarily … is now St. Louis law.