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AGAINST ABORTION FACTS AGAINST ABORTION FACTS

AGAINST ABORTION FACTS

Against Abortion Facts

against abortion facts – Abortion: A

Will the Kenyan church lose credibility over stance on referendum?

My dear readers,

The coming referendum on the proposed new constitution continues to dominate national discourse in Kenya and has sucked all of us into it.

Leading clergy have vowed to vote no at the August 4 referendum, while all the major political leaders have publicly said they will vote yes. Both camps are now involved in a vicious tussle over who will be mightier at vowing the voters to their side. A very unfortunate approach to campaign for a referendum if you want to know my position. But this is Kenya, and the approach is quite in tandem with all the other things we have been doing to delay the making of a new constitution for now 20 years.

A question which is topical is; how will the result of August 4 affect the credibility of these church leaders and indeed the authority of the church over the nation? If the church leaders lose at the referendum will they have lost both the battle and war? Will this mean more Kenyans trust the government (read politicians) more than church leaders(read the church)? Will the church leaders ever be trusted again when proposing future amendments to the constitution such as the demotion of the kadhi courts from the constitution? Or will they have lost the moral authority to challenge this constitution for ever?

Very disturbing articles continue to appear in the main stream media regarding this question. This week Barrack Muluka ( who writes in the Standard newspaper) and American based Kenyan Professor Mutua Makau ( who writes in the Nation newspaper) joined in the debate. The gist of their articles is that the Kenyan church will lose credibility after August 4, which may well mark the beginning of the decline of the church authority (and indeed respect for the church) in Kenya.

Sample some of the arguements of these and other writers:

a) The church leaders have joined the campaign side that is saddled with people who are spreading falsehoods as well threatening war if the proposed constitution becomes law.As christians they are abrogating their responsibility if they do not own up to these falsehoods for the sake of winning the referendum.

b) For expediency reasons, the church leaders have said they will use offertory to fund their campaigns. Now offertory is collected from church goers , some who will be voting yes. Should those who support the draft constitution withhold their offertory or withdraw from these churches altogether, since the churches will continue the fight even after August 4?

c) Some of the church leaders have implied that the real fight is against kadhi courts, and all the other reasons they advance are merely peripheral. The implication is that they see this as a religious fight even as they publicly deny the fact for good public relations, or to avoid retaliation in kind. Is this poorly kept secret not bedevilled with insincerity and dishonesty ?

d) The church is by and large adopting unethical approaches of overtly as well as covertly manipulating their followers to vote no. This is being done by some church pastors through propagandist sermons as well as overnight indoctrinative prayer vigils (keshas). The sum effect of these activities is to cause the members of church to lose individual conscience so as to vote as directed by the church leaders.

e) The church has adopted the no camp position that the draft should be rejected even as they agree that 95 % of the clauses will radically change the way public affairs are managed in Kenya and for the better. This holier than thou approach has made writers like Barrack Muluka to tease that "even the Bible is not perfect" (he says the Bible is contradictory on the genealogy of Jesus Christ as conflicting accounts are given in different gospels).

f) The proposal of the no side on what will happen if the proposed constitution falls is either simplistic or reckless. They claim another referendum could be held in November. They claim that parliament will be able to agree this time round over the issues that are deemed contentious. Both claims are simply ridiculous.

the termination of a pregnancy

just for a moment, let’s play hypothetical.

couple X have discovered that they are going to have a child.

or, put more accurately, female X has discovered she is pregnant.

at the first scan certain anomalies in the fetus are discovered.

at the second scan it becomes obvious that the defects in the fetus are very profound.

the medical professionals involved advise couple X that if this pregnancy is carried to full term and birth, it is almost certain that the human being created will have nothing that in any way resembles a normal or reasonable life.

let us consider the situation above.

if this child is brought into the world [and perchance grows into adulthood], it would need 24 hour care; if not from the parents themselves then from medical and welfare professionals that the parents would need to engage.

who can say if this human being would ‘enjoy’ living?

who can say if this human being would be in any way shape or form ‘happy’?

are you qualified to say that this individual would feel joy?

are you qualified to say that this individual would feel love?

as you are not the parents, are you qualified to say anything at all regarding this individual?

where do you stand with regard to the early termination of this pregnancy?

i ask the questions above simply as an exercise in communication and debate.

as far as I am concerned abortion is an issue for the individual.

no woman should ever, in any sense whatsoever, be browbeaten, coerced or pressured to act in any way that others may wish her to act.

or to act in any other way than that which she sees fit with regard to her own conscience.

the individual involved has the absolute right to make that decision.

the individual must be granted the right to make that decision.

that would seem to me the only sensible way to deal with this most devisive and polarising issue.

regardless of the fact that you think termination is infanticide or perfectly acceptable, i do not see how you can regard it as in any way acceptable that you would force a woman to act against her own wishes.

who the fuck do you think you are?

ps – no, it is not mine.

i considered using my own ejaculate but decided that would be uncalled for with respect to this piece.

against abortion facts

In addition to relating the heartbreaking story of her own struggles and triumphs, West interviews a number of abortion survivors who have transcended the emotional, social, and political stigmas attached to this volatile issue. Interspersed are effective techniques designed to achieve self-forgiveness and spiritual healing.

REVIEWS:
“For me, a great book is one that leaves me moved and tingling when I complete its final passages. Ardyce West’s book, ‘I Never Heard You Cry’, did precisely that for me. Not only will you be supported and inspired, you will find numerous springs of healing in this book. It is poignant as well as practical, offering compassion and insight in a controversial and troubled arena. Read this book and let your heart be touched.”

–Dr. Roger W. Teel
Senior Minister and Spiritual Director
Mile Hi Church
Lakewood, Colorado

“Ardyce West courageously shares her vulnerability in exposing her soul’s journey of healing after her experience of abortion. Her insights give us all strength in moving forward after irreplaceable loss into greater awareness. ‘I Never Heard You Cry’ is a significant and much needed work that will heal lives.”

–Rev. Christian Sorensen, D.D.
Seaside Center for Spiritual Living

FOREWORD:
There are topics that ignite courageous conversations and create controversy. The subject matter of this book is one of those topics. https://www.the-essays.com has been and continues to be a “hot bed” of heated discussion in numerous circles. There are groups of people with opinions that connect the choice to have an abortion to morality. Other groups are adamant that a woman has the right to choose what happens with her body. Still others are fighting for the rights for abortion for medical safety of the woman.

According to statistics, nearly half of the pregnancies among American women are unintended, and four in 10 of these are terminated by abortion. Twenty-two percent of all pregnancies (excluding miscarriages) end in abortion. From 1973 through 2008, nearly 50 million legal abortions occurred. Each year, two percent of women aged 15-44 have an abortion and half have had at least one previous abortion.

Ardyce West has written a deeply personal and important book with a message for anyone who has ever had an abortion or experienced a loved one having an abortion. She invites us to understand the long lasting emotional and psychological aftermath that comes from moving through an abortion. She also invites us to replace fear with love. Through her personal story and others sharing their stories, Ardyce invites us to move into a state of compassionate listening and profound forgiveness. In fact, she asks us to move out of any form of judgment and open our hearts to anyone who has ever had to experience the pain of abortion on any level…

…This is a book that will support healing and transform the way people look at abortion if they are willing to suspend fearful concepts. I highly encourage you to read this book and share it with your family, friends and even counseling clients. It will make a difference in how they view the experience of abortion and hopefully encourage them to open their hearts.

–Cynthia James
Author
“What Will Set You Free”
“Revealing Your Extraordinary Essence”
http://www.cynthiajames.net

From the Publisher:
Ardyce West’s compelling narrative examines the grief, pain and regret suffered by women and men who hide in the dark shadows of abortion. While acknowledging the pointed issues and opinions of both pro-life and pro-choice, West remains apolitical and non judgmental, conceding that many women and men involved in abortion successfully move on comfortably resolved to their decision. “I Never Heard You Cry” in fact never approaches political edict or social commentary regarding abortion. West focuses rather on the substantial number of people who do struggle with complex and deeply emotional post-abortion issues.

–Dr. Roger W. Teel
Senior Minister and Spiritual Director
Mile Hi Church
Lakewood, Colorado

–Rev. Christian Sorensen, D.D.
Seaside Center for Spiritual Living

FOREWORD:
There are topics that ignite courageous conversations and create controversy. The subject matter of this book is one of those topics. Abortion has been and continues to be a “hot bed” of heated discussion in numerous circles. There are groups of people with opinions that connect the choice to have an abortion to morality. Other groups are adamant that a woman has the right to choose what happens with her body. Still others are fighting for the rights for abortion for medical safety of the woman.

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