The background for a new statement on aborting nearly fully-developed babies in the womb
Partial birth abortion became headline news in the mid-1990s when a few abortion providers who specialized in late-term abortions developed techniques for partially delivering infants and then killing them before they were fully delivered. The country at first responded to the news of such acts with disbelief. But increasingly information about and statements from doctors and clinics performing the abortions were reported in mainstream media. A single clinic in New Jersey reported performing thousands of such abortions a year.

Congress favors ban on partial birth abortion; G.A. staff oppose ban
As the evidence of these abortions grew, Congress proposed legislation to ban the procedures and held hearings on the subject. The Presbyterian Church (USA) Washington Office and the Stated Clerk both sent communications to Congress supporting the procedures and urging Congress to defeat attempts to ban the abortions.

1997 G.A. opposes partial birth abortion; staff pursue support for the procedure
In 1997 The PC(USA) General Assembly heard the facts about the procedures for the second year in a row and adopted a statement opposing partial birth abortion. The statement said,

In the year 2000, when a Nebraska law limiting partial birth abortions was appealed to the Supreme Court, Stated Clerk Clifton Kirkpatrick considered submitting an amicus brief to the court supporting this form of abortion.

Church entities seek assignment of interpreting church policy on late term abortion
Kirkpatrick withdrew consideration of submitting the brief after it became a matter of public knowledge and produced considerable opposition. The Advisory Committee on Litigation (ACL), the body that advises the clerk on such matters, subsequently asked the Advisory Committee on Social Witness Policy (ASCWP), the body that initiates social policies, to look into what the church has said on late term abortion.

The ACL's request was approved by the G.A. of 2000. That Assembly charged the ACL and ACSWP to come to the G.A. of 2002 with a joint recommendation to clarify church policy on late term abortions.

Pediatrician presents facts that deny need for late term abortions
The two committees held a hearing at the 2001 General Assembly. One person who testified was PPL board member and pediatrician, Patricia L. June, M.D. from Moultrie, GA. Dr. June is board certified in both internal medicine and pediatrics. Following her testimony she was invited to submit further written testimony. Dr. June responded by addressing the matters of fetal viability and abortion comprehensively in a 32 page paper.

In her paper, Dr. June addresses such matters as the meaning of fetal viability, the incidence and reasons for late term abortions, the risks of late term abortions versus childbirth, abortion techniques commonly used for babies close to delivery, long term implications for women who have abortions, treatments for fetal abnormalities, and the effects of abortion on unborn children.

Dr. June notes that non-medical personnel at a number of General Assemblies have claimed that late term abortions are necessary to preserve a woman's reproductive health. Actually, she responds, the converse is true, and proceeds to document her own claim.

In the last section of her paper Dr. June applies her well-developed theological skills to her considerable medical knowledge of children. She ends with a number of recommendations. Among those most useful to this joint commit-tees consideration are the following:

1. The abortion of a fetus after viability is not in keeping with God's good will for God's children.
2. When a child has been diagnosed, before or after birth, with a serious or even lethal disability, the people of God should surround the family with prayer and practical support, helping to bear the burdens of caring for the child, remembering both the needs of the child and the needs of other family members, and sharing also in the joy that the child brings. (See the section on Fetal Abnormalities for some practical suggestions).
3. The church needs to encourage parents to love and nurture their children for all the days that God has given them. At the same time the medical profession needs to avoid burdening children and their families with obviously futile tests and treatments.
4. Every effort should be make to optimize the timing and method of delivery when the life or health of mother and/or child is at risk to obtain the best outcome for both of them. This may involve a judgment call as to the risks to mother and/or fetus of prolonging the pregnancy versus risks to the baby from increased prematurity from sooner delivery; it may involve balancing the longer recovery to the mother of a [caesarian section] C/S with the less traumatic delivery to the baby if breech or very premature. Whenever possible the parents should be involved in the decision-making, and mother and physician have to be in agreement to take action (e.g., start induction, do a C/S, etc.)

Dr. June is board certified in internal medicine and pediatrics. She is a former PC(USA) missionary and a current member of the PPL board of directors.

Dr. June's full report

Top / Back to Fall 2001 index / previous article / next article
To begin receiving Presbyterians Pro-Life NEWS by mail, click here. Then click "Newsletter."