Morgentaler's Order of Canada

It was my intention to ignore this area of politics as I generally attempt to ignore most political issues, and perhaps one day I will try to explain my reasons for this more in depth than I intend to now, but I am getting annoyed and frustrated by people telling me that as a Christian I should be outraged by this event, and I am feeling the need to express my opinion. After having this issue brought up briefly in a church service, and seeing the posting by my father-in-law, I did some checking into this issue and was appalled, not only by the number of people attacking Morgentaler and the honour bestowed upon him, but also by the explicit and implicit statements that anyone who is a Christian or against abortion is, or should be doing the same. I will try to explain my position as coherently as possible in order to minimize the backlash that I may incur for my opinion. I will also do my best to stick to the Morgentaler case specifically.

I disagree wholeheartedly with the abuse that Christians choose to heap upon an individual's sin simply because their actions make the news or relate to politics. As Christians, I believe that we ought to show love, and compassion, and understanding toward individuals--to show the love and mercy that God has shown us. Judging Morgentaler's actions as an abortion activist does not seem to be the business of the church or of me as a Christian. And using Christian values to determine that a man does not deserve the Order of Canada seems equally absurd. The criteria used to decide who receives this honour is not based upon the Word of God (as much as many of us may wish it was), but upon an individual's contributions to Canadians as a whole. While I may disagree with Morgentaler's actions and beliefs, it is extremely pretentious to claim that within the values of Canadian society he has not "desired a better country". Canadian law allowed abortion and Morgentaler sacrificed a lot in order to stand up for his beliefs and make the laws of our country fair to all women. He did desire a better Canada so far as he envisioned the way that Canada should be--and in the end "Canada" agreed with his vision.

I do not agree with Morgentaler's, or the Supreme Court's vision for Canada as far as abortion is concerned. I believe that abortion is a sin; that it is murder. But I also do not agree with religious groups trying to push their morals on others. If you want to lobby the government's laws on abortion then that is your right; however, in light of comments I made on my father's blog on Canada Day, one great thing about this nation is that we are all entitled to our belief's . . . that must be extended to the Morgentaler's in society. And if we all really stopped to consider the issue here, I think we would agree that we have a problem with abortion, not specifically with Morgentaler--he is simply receiving the brunt of our anger at the way our country has chosen to move away from Godly values.

I would like to reference this passage from John chapter 8 as support for my position. The passage has been take from: http://www.nasb.scripturetext.com/john/8.htm

John 8
New American Standard Bible ©
The Adulterous Woman

1 But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2 Early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people were coming to Him; and He sat down and began to teach them. 3 The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery, and having set her in the center of the court, 4 they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in adultery, in the very act. 5 “Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women; what then do You say?” 6 They were saying this, testing Him, so that they might have grounds for accusing Him. But Jesus stooped down and with His finger wrote on the ground. 7 But when they persisted in asking Him, He straightened up, and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 Again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. 9 When they heard it, they began to go out one by one, beginning with the older ones, and He was left alone, and the woman, where she was, in the center of the court. 10 Straightening up, Jesus said to her, “Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?” 11 She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on sin no more.”]

In this passage we have the Pharisees, a religious group, attempting to trick Jesus. They have decided to target one specific woman for her sin and have Jesus rule on whether or not they should kill her as the Old Testament requires. However, Jesus refuses to play their games and says that any of them who have not sinned may go ahead and stone the woman. None of them are able to fulfill this prerequisite, and they all leave. From this example it seems clear to me that targeting and attacking one person for their sin is not Biblical. The question is not whether the woman has sinned but whether or not her sin should be judged by us. Jesus tells the woman to go and sin no more, recognizing, yet forgiving her sin. I believe that as Christians we should do the same. Has Morgentaler sinned? Yes he has. Should we be the ones to condemn him? No we shouldn't. Had the Pharisees come to Jesus asking what they ought to do with individuals who commit adultery, rather than bringing this one specific woman, it would have been interesting to hear his answer; but they did not.

If you, as a Christian, want to lobby our government with your beliefs then go ahead (I may one day try to explain why I don't care to waste my time with doing this, but I certainly will not discourage you from doing so); however, I do not feel we should be attacking individuals whom God loves, and please stop telling me that if I am a Christian I should feel bad if I don't.