"Schlossberg and Achtemeier speak a word that is not often heard in today's mainline Protestant church. Taking the distinctiveness of the church seriously and building upon the classical theological stance that has characterized the Reformed tradition at its best, they help us to think through abortion in a bold, provocative way. Anyone attempting to think through the abortion issue in a faithful way must read this book."
- - WILLIAM H. WILLIMON, Duke University Chapel

"An excellent Christian presentation of the church's role in the abortion issue. The authors skillfully place the tragedy of abortion in an area transcending the political. The arguments set forth follow a clear method. They are balanced, properly researched, and well written. The conclusion correctly looks to grace, compassion, and truth."
- - JOHN CARDINAL O'CONNOR, Archbishop of New York

"Discussion of abortion in America has been conducted mostly in terms of natural law, and such discussion must continue. But Schlossberg and Achtemeier do a great service by reminding us of what, for believers, must be the starting point of reflection - - that the church from its founding has condemned abortion as utterly incompatible with its life."
- - ROBERT W. JENSON, St. Olaf College

"A clear, reasonable, and extremely readable analysis of the total lack of justifications for the church to be liberal on abortion….This book is a thorough and unfaltering answer to those in the church who have fallen pray to the current culture's moral relativism…"
- - MARIA McFADDEN, executive editor, Human Life Review

"Reviewers need to exercise restraint in using superlatives lest their credibility be exhausted. If too many books or movies get five-star ratings, the currency of all rating is debased. This reviewer is aware of the pitfalls but is still going to throw restraint and caution to the wind in reviewing this modest-looking volume because it is one of the most stunning books I have read in the past year; it is simply dynamite! Abortion is one of the most politicized issues in our current Kulturkampf, but the authors have taken it out of the political arena altogether and placed it squarely before the church as an ecclesiastical and ethical matter. The clarion call of this tract is for the church to be the church; the astounding claim is that 'the issue of abortion concerns the basic characteristics that make the church the church - - the Word rightly preached and the sacraments rightly administered' (7)…..There is much…here that is inspiring and emboldening as well as compassionate…a modest and courageous volume that truly deserves to be called 'prophetic.' The Gospel of Life shines through it; God's Good News is declared clearly and lovingly. The culture of death, by comparison, is a dark, forboding black-hole of nihilism and despair….This is a (highly readable!) tract for our time and must reading for pastors and church members!….The church must bear witness to the Gospel of life - - in any age and especially in ours."
- - JOHN BOLT, book review in Calvin Theological Journal