The PCUSA Washington Office gave one of its two annual Partnership in Mission Awards to the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice (RCRC). The award, presented by Washington Office director Elenora Ivory at the Washington Office dinner on June 20, was designed to honor a body or person "who has advanced the cause of justice through their advocacy efforts that are in concert with the issues of the General Assembly of the PC(USA)," according to the dinner program.

RCRC speaks against virtually all restrictions on abortion. It has opposed all attempts to limit late-term abortions or promote parental involvement when a minor seeks an abortion. RCRC has also denounced legislation that would prohibit the creation and destruction of human embryos for purposes of scientific research.

The coalition includes the Presbyterian Washington Office and Women's Ministries programs among its 40 constituent organizations. RCRC receives yearly grants of $2500 from the National Ministries Division and Women's Ministries.

Accepting the Washington Office award was the Rev. Carlton Veazey, the RCRC president. He expressed his gratitude to the PCUSA: "Our coalition has been blessed with your support and financial aid."

Veazey warned his audience at the dinner that "choice is in the balance." He declared, "It is important that our young people understand that they have to take up this fight" to keep abortion as a constitutional right. The particular message stressed by RCRC is that "you can be religious and pro-choice," according to Veazey, a black Baptist minister.

The RCRC head recalled his youth in Memphis, at a time when abortion was illegal in most states. A cousin of his, he remembered, had become pregnant at age 12 or 13. She was sent away by the family to live with relatives in California. While there, the cousin induced an abortion in herself. She was taken to the hospital emergency room, where the police came to investigate. Manslaughter charges were filed against her, although these were later dropped.

Subsequently, according to Veazey, his cousin married and had two children. Many years later her daughter was killed in an auto accident while returning home from college. The cousin suffered a mental breakdown, Veazey said, because she connected her daughter's death to the abortion many years before.

The lesson that Veazey drew from this experience was: "There are many people today who have scars that they would not have if we had had choice and progressive people." Apparently, he concluded that his cousin's distress was entirely the product of laws prohibiting abortion. He did not mention the possibility that she may have suffered from a case of post-abortion trauma, as many women still do today--decades after all laws against abortion were overturned.

The RCRC head voiced his opposition to a proposed federal law dealing with the transportation of minors across state lines for purposes of abortion. The law would ban such transportation, unless it is done by the child's parents or guardians or with their permission. Veazey conceded that parental involvement would be a positive factor in 60 percent of the cases of minors undergoing abortions. But he claimed: "There are 40 percent of young people who are in abusive situations. Many of them are incestuous situations."

Veazey touted RCRC's new sexuality curriculum aimed at black churches. Entitled "Keeping It Real," the curriculum emphasizes "safe sex" rather than abstinence. Speakers at RCRC conferences have urged black churches to revamp their teachings on sexual morality. Acceptance of pre-marital and homosexual relationships has been a major theme for the coalition. The vast majority of its membership and almost all its funding come from white liberal sources.

214th GA index

Home / About PPL / Contact PPL / Topical Index / PPL Publications / Pregnant? We’ll Help
Adoption Resources / Post Abortion Resources / PPL NEWS Articles / Order Resources / Prayer Calendar

© Presbyterians Pro-Life
3942 Middle Rd.
Allison Park, PA 15101
www.ppl.org