A Message from Bishop David Anderson Bishop David Anderson Dearly Beloved in Christ, Within the orthodox Anglican family there are a number of issues that have general agreement, and some that don't. Within the family, there seems to be general agreement on the sanctity of life. This subject encompasses concern for the unborn child and also concern over capital punishment. There is broad agreement about the sacredness of the life of the not-yet-born child, innocent and helpless within the safety of his or her mother's womb. There is less agreement on the issue of capital punishment, with some entirely against it, others very concerned about the inequality of the application either because of race or financial resource or commitment of the community to provide adequate representation, and others strongly supportive. The orthodox Anglican family in the United States is divided on the latter issue, but increasingly committed to the former, where the innocent unborn are at risk. In our culture, where abortion has been used as a means of birth control, there is growing awareness of the damage that the decision to abort a child does to the mother, not just physically but spiritually and emotionally as well.

When I was in parish ministry, we had a women's group who ministered to women who, often not until midlife, fully faced the death of their child that they themselves had caused. It was a great help for them to have loving and patient sisters to walk them through the repentance and restoration process. Some women from the church were given the opportunity to speak to children in the schools about behavior and consequences, and how to handle a crisis if it happens. At a men's retreat one year, I confronted the men of the church, challenging them that many in the room had fathered a child out of wedlock and had either paid for their girlfriend to have an abortion, or helped lead to an abortion by abandoning their child and his/her mother. I asked them to close their eyes, and if this was true for them, to raise their hands. Hands went up all over the room, perhaps half, at least a third. Guys often get a free ride, helping to make babies and then disappearing, while society blames the woman. It was time for the men to own their guilt in the death of their children, and as we prayed prayers of confession and repentence, big tough men wept openly. It is time to realize that when a pregnancy is ended artificially, those who have done this have taken an innocent, trusting and vulnerable human life. The miracle is that when true confession is made, God can grant real forgiveness, and the man or woman can experience real release and redirection. There is a penance, however, and that is to speak out and tell their own story, as painful as it is, and to speak the truth about death and about new life. I'm guessing that at least a few of my readers will have participated in some manner in an abortion decision. Today is the day to let God speak truth into your soul about that, and begin your journey to healing. I came across an article that Terry Mattingly wrote just the other day about the actress Patricia Neal. Of the many trials she faced in her life, one of the most difficult was when she discovered she was pregnant with a child out of wedlock by actor Gary Cooper, who was married. Her pain in life from a failed marriage and lost children finally drove her back to the church, trying to find peace and make sense of her life. She sought out spiritual counsel from a priest to whom she finally voiced her secret pain. In his article, Terry Mattingly shared this: "Monsignor Jim Lisante of Diocese of Rockville Centre (New York) later discussed with Neal the tragedies of her life and asked if there was any one event that she would change. She said, 'Forty years ago I became involved with the actor Gary Cooper, and by him I became pregnant. As he was a married man and I was young in Hollywood and not wanting to ruin my career, we chose to have the baby aborted'. She said, 'Father, alone in the night for over 40 years, I have cried for my child. And if there is one thing I wish I had the courage to do over in my life, I wish I had the courage to have that baby.'" When Neal died, a number of the obituaries mentioned this in the framework of her life's pain and remorse. Read the full article (a link is below), for there is more to glean from the rest of the story, including her stroke and remarkable recovery. I would like my readers to take away from this not just the damage that abortion does to the child, but to the mother and father as well, and, where we permit it, to our society and culture. God's capacity to forgive and heal exceeds our capacity to confess and repent - talk to Him today. We all have something we wish we could do over and do differently. Blessings and Peace in Christ Jesus, The Rt. Rev. David C. Anderson, Sr. President and CEO, American Anglican Council