In a sermon, the new head of the school in Cambridge, Massachusetts, also said that the people who run abortion clinics are "heroes" and "saints."
-- From "Abortion rights activist named Episcopal Divinity School leader" by Michael Paulson, Boston Globe 4/5/09
Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge on Monday announced that the Rev. Katherine Hancock Ragsdale will be its new president, succeeding Bishop Steven Charleston, who resigned last year. Ragsdale is the vicar of St. David's Church in Pepperell, but is best known as an abortion rights activist who has sat on the boards of NARAL Pro-Choice America and the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice. She is the president of Political Research Associates, a liberal think tank.
She is also openly gay in a denomination that is facing schism over its approval of an openly gay priest, V. Gene Robinson, as the Episcopal bishop of New Hampshire.
To read the entire article, CLICK HERE.
From "Abortion is a blessing and abortionists are doing holy work, says Anglican priest" by Damian Thompson, [London] Telegraph 4/2/09
Ms Ragsdale, speaking in Birmingham, Alabama, said that "when a woman becomes pregnant within a loving, supportive, respectful relationship; has every option open to her; decides she does not wish to bear a child; and has access to a safe, affordable abortion - there is not a tragedy in sight - only blessing."
[Excerpts from the sermon:]
. . . [concerning] my fellow clergy. Too often even those who support us can be heard talking about abortion as a tragedy. Let's be very clear about this:
When a woman wants a child but can't afford one because she hasn't the education necessary for a sustainable job, or access to health care, or day care, or adequate food, it is the abysmal priorities of our nation, the lack of social supports, the absence of justice that are the tragedies; the abortion is a blessing.
And when a woman becomes pregnant within a loving, supportive, respectful relationship; has every option open to her; decides she does not wish to bear a child; and has access to a safe, affordable abortion - there is not a tragedy in sight -- only blessing. The ability to enjoy God's good gift of sexuality without compromising one's education, life's work, or ability to put to use God's gifts and call is simply blessing.
I want to thank all of you who protect this blessing - who do this work every day: the health care providers, doctors, nurses, technicians, receptionists, who put your lives on the line to care for others (you are heroes -- in my eyes, you are saints); the escorts and the activists; the lobbyists and the clinic defenders; all of you. You're engaged in holy work.
To read the full sermon, CLICK HERE.
