The selectivity of a (non) inclusive church

It appears that a report from the  Anglican Church of Melbourne has recommended we move to a less-inclusive Church, especially in the case of "foetal abnormality, when abortion was 'the least problematic solution'".  Thanks to Scott for drawing this to our attention

The Church of Melbourne's home page features three great articles relating to children and youth.  I was particularly struck by the one entitled "Archbishop calls for national inquiry into childhood depression".  Hmmm.

Where should one turn at such times for a vision of the inclusive church?  Perhaps to those who are the forefront of the move toward "inclusivity":

"Planned Parenthood is an organization that I have always admired and respected. It does such extraordinarily fine work, and I'm very happy to be associated with it."

Rt Rev Gene Robinson, interviewed here.

"...we must challenge the condemnation by the Church throughout the centuries of such things as masturbation, birth control, abortion, and homosexuality."

Rt Rev Michael Ingham, article here.

It's true that we are not a single issue church.  It's a worldview.  Of course those with "foetal abnormalities" are included as a large subset of the objects of the "extraordinariiy fine work" which is done. You can see that such fine work is done in almost 85-90% of say, foetuses with a diagnosis of Down Syndrome.  But don't take my word for it.  Such extraordinarily fine work has been detailed elsewhere: 

Caroline Mansfield, Suellen Hopfer, Theresa M. Marteau (1999). "Termination rates after prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome, spina bifida, anencephaly, and Turner and Klinefelter syndromes: a systematic literature review". Prenatal Diagnosis 19 (9): 808-812.  PMID 10521836 ; David W. Britt, Samantha T. Risinger, Virginia Miller, Mary K. Mans, Eric L. Krivchenia, Mark I. Evans (1999). "Determinants of parental decisions after the prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome: Bringing in context". American Journal of Medical Genetics 93 (5): 410 - 416

This is why I find talk of an "Inclusive Church" rather, well, deficient at best and deceptive at worst.  I have long known that the Episcopal Church has been active in the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice.  The latest op-ed from the Rev Anne Fowler celebrates this fact.

I am not convinced.  It is precisely those who require of us a sacrificial love, who will lead us into the Kingdom.  Of course we don't want to offer such sacrificial love, and so we look for the "least problematic solution".  We don't really want to practice Jesus' unconditional love;  we just want to use it as a slogan at synods, in church newspapers and in comments on our favorite blogs.  Don't let us see what it really looks like.

SJ, former "foetus with abnormaiity", presently 6 year old person living with Down Syndrome, showing a piece of "extraordinarily fine work".

For some, full "sacramental inclusion" means reaching the baptismal font...

Comments

[Peter]

Yes, I can see that this in particular is going to hit home hard! 'Least problematic solution' - yes, indeed. Leaves a bad taste in the mouth. Since when was the church involved in the culture of death? Ah yes, I know, when it ceased being a church of Christ.

Inclusivity is not more than a ploy on the way to the triumph of the new thing. Once it has done it's work, it'll be jetisoned in favour of justice.

Perhaps I shall write something particularly scathing tomorrow.

[Leslie]

I can't help but thinking the guy on the right looks like you?

[Tim]

Better looking, though, Leslie. Although it's actually a girl.

[Leslie]

The one on the right in SJ's picture is a girl? The pink dress is flared so I assumed the straighter purple one on the right was really a shirted body. Kid art is a fascinating insight into what the kidartist is thinking at the time. Having never met SJ, I'm just guessing.

There's something deeply significant about the human ability to create and recreate life in art. Parents create children and children in turn create their parents, and hang them on the fridge. Somewhat of a circle of life.

Your post says it well, Joe.

[steve the z]

If Kid art is an insight into what the Kidartist is thinking, then it appears SJ is thinking some pretty good thoughts. Birds, water fall, family, trees and flowers, and I think a dog (maybe cat). That's good living.

[Tim]

Soory, Leslie, my mistake - I thought you were talking about Sarah Joy.

[joseph]

Leslie and Tim: sometimes it's hard to tell. Although SJ rejects many of the presuppositions of many modernist schools, such as those of Chagall and even the Synthetic Cubists, it is difficult to classify her as genuinely post modern in her approach to the subjects. Remnants of Henri Matisse and Pierre Bonnard can still be detected.

Peter: one of the things which people should take note of is how the word "inclusive" has come to have only one meaning in our contemporary church. To which I say: if you are going to put forth on an issue, then by all means speak your piece, but don't pretend you are being truly "inclusive" in the full sense of the word. On the other hand, perhaps the church is becoming "trisomophobic"...