We’ve all heard Christians argue that while their religion might say abortion is wrong, they can’t force their religion on others. That’s the out they give themselves. But Reverend Matthew Westfox of the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice goes one step further by actually twisting one of Jesus’ parables into a pro-abortion defense. He did so in an article on his reflections on Easter.
According to Live Action , Westfox wrote:
A pro-life stance cannot concern itself only with the life of the woman. In the parable of the sower, Jesus reminds us that seed alone does not bring about new life — that all aspects of the conditions into which the seed are cast must be suitable to sustain life. If there is not enough light or too many weeds or other circumstances that make the ground unfit, the seed will not grow. The story reminds us that respecting and honoring life means doing all we can to create the conditions that will allow life to flourish — while at the same time respecting and accepting that some conditions are not suitable to sustaining life. We do no service by trying to force life into places where the ground is not right.
Similarly, living out a pro-life theology means ensuring that those who want to create new life or parent a child never feel they cannot because the ground they stand upon is not suitable. It also means that no one should ever be coerced into bringing new life into a situation they do not believe is ready to sustain it. A truly pro-life theology means working for health care, employment, and other factors so that no one ever feels he or she cannot be a parent because the conditions aren’t suitable and that we never force life into a situation that lacks one of the most fundamental ingredients of healthy ground — parents who are ready to love and welcome the child.
So if love isn’t in the parents heart, killing is ok? But doesn’t Jesus call us to love? So let’s get this straight, if two parents aren’t listening to Jesus and refusing to love then they should listen to Jesus by killing their child.
Getting back to the parable though—in Jesus’ parable the farmer casts seeds about liberally. Many of these seeds, however, fail to produce as some are eaten by birds, some sprout but later wither, and some are choked by weeds. Some however yield grain.
Rev. Westfox would seem to be arguing that only in those cases where everything is perfect should we accept life into the world. I wonder if he sees the parable of the Prodigal son as a defense of a party lifestyle. Or the Parable of the Lost Sheep as a defense of vegetarianism. Or perhaps the parable of the lost coin as a defense of wealth redistribution.
At the end of the story, Jesus says “they who have ears, let them hear.” Well, I can’t help but think Rev. Westfox misheard. The parable is about the seeds of God’s words falling but not being accepted or allowed to grow into a real faith. Westfox would gather up the seeds for his own purposes and use them to defend the indefensible. It’s one thing to ignore Jesus’ words, it’s entirely another to use them, to twist them to our own needs and philosophies. To use Jesus’ words to justify the killing of the unborn is a horror. There’s no other way I can put it.
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He reminds me of the Timmy Kirk character from the HBO series “OZ”
http://goo.gl/v8TdW
This reverend is he a episcopalian priest or a jesuit priest, I wonder?
If you think that is bad, I can’t imagine what you would think of the biblical defense for embryonic stem cell research that I ran across one day at a conference. A man (a self described Catholic nonetheless) described to me that he favored ESC research because it held so many cures. The only reason anyone has to be against it are based on misguided religious principles. In order to counter these principles, we must use religion against these misguided people. He said that just as Jesus sacrificed himself for the good of other people, so should we be sacrificing these “left over” embryos for the good of other people. This is what they would want after all - to help other people. I am rarely speechless, but this was certainly a time that I was literally shocked into silence.
I think Pastor Westfox has been smoking a little too much of the weed he’s sowing.
@John at 12:41 “so should we be sacrificing these “left over” embryos for the good of other people.” The high priests saw that it was good to sacrifice one man “for the people” Two separate issues of profound impact are present in this argument. First:“WE” cannot sacrifice another person created sovereign with unalienable rights. According to our Declaration of Independence all men are CREATED EQUAL through the will of God. Man and woman can do the marital act until dooms day but human lfe cannot come into existence except through the will of God) Secondly, that individual substance of a rational nature (Thomas Aquinas’ definition of a human being)must give consent to lay down his life. The human race, all civilization is predicated on consent: marriage, business, government. To belong to God we must live as Jesus.
This is the best parable against contraception, only the fraudulent pastor stops short of acknowledging almighty God and God’s sovereignty over life. This new age pastor does not believe in God. Our God is the ONLY GOD who is a sovereign Person. So, this fake pastor denies his own soverign personhoood and cannot even be a citizen…and for thirty pieces of silver in the collection basket, he sold his own soul.
You give him too much press…and credit. Just because a guy takes a correspondence course, gets the mail-order “vestments”, and throws a shingle up in a strip mall doesn’t make him a “Reverend”.
He doesn’t even know when life truly begins.
If his “theology” is to be adhered to, then the statement “We do no service by trying to force life into places where the ground is not right” should apply before a couple has sexual intercourse.
Good grief.
Lord have Mercy!!!
I think my head is going to explode…
A pastor colleague of mine once shared that in a pastors bible study (Lutheran) that the group was discussing the story of the visitation. At which point the rest of the group (which included a bi-sexual pastor and other progressives) decided, somewhat definitively, that the text was written in support of a woman’s right to choose. HUH? Two pregnant women gushing and prophesying over God’s blessings and salvific work is in support of abortion? Sounds like this Rev. Westfox got his sermon notes from the same online “exegetical guru!”
Needless to say, it was the last time my colleague participated in this particular conferences bible study.
There are excellent ways in which we may assure that we not “force life” when conditions are not “suitable” (whatever this means). Which do not include killing the life already existing when we after the fact decide that conditions aren’t to our satisfaction.
They guy looks like he’s 16. Probably delives pizza as his real job. His “stole” looks more Islamic than Christian…see any crosses?
Dang…24 seconds of my life wasted on this…
Documentary - “The Other American War” reveals about President of the USA, George W. Bush withdrew all funds from organizations working in developing countries dealing directly or indirectly with abortion. The American pro-life lobby insists that abortion is murder and welcomes this decision, even if it has terrible consequences for women in developing countries like Ethiopia, who do not have anything to do with abortion. Whether or not to have an abortion is often the biggest decision a woman will ever make. Every year, 46 million women worldwide choose to have a termination. It’s a decision they will live with for the rest of their lives. Emotional, upsetting and divisive, abortion remains one of the most hotly debated issues of our time.
Documentary - “The Other American War” reveals about President of the USA, George W. Bush withdrew all funds from organizations working in developing countries dealing directly or indirectly with abortion. The American pro-life lobby insists that abortion is murder and welcomes this decision, even if it has terrible consequences for women in developing countries like Ethiopia, who do not have anything to do with abortion. Whether or not to have an abortion is often the biggest decision a woman will ever make. Every year, 46 million women worldwide choose to have a termination. It’s a decision they will live with for the rest of their lives. Emotional, upsetting and divisive, abortion remains one of the most hotly debated issues of our time.
To watch please visit - Culture Unplugged
No mention at all, I see, of the fact that if you DO NOT want to reap a harvest DO NOT be sowing any seeds!!!
The only way to grow something - a weed, a plant or a baby - is to be directly involved in the sowing of the seeds.
Every good farmer knows that if he isn’t committed to the entire process of making sure a harvest is successful and bountiful THEY DON’T SOW!!! They prepare the soil before sowing, keep the soil healthy during the growing process and after…..
Goodness, gracious sakes alive - we are surrounded by clowns masquerading as theologians!
Bad logic, Reverend. The Parable of the Sower shows that Christ casts the seeds anywhere, regardless of where they land. The Sower is not careful to throw the seed only on fertile soil. The story is not about planting seeds carefully, it is about bad types of soil. Now, taking your interpretation, the correct logical end would be not to scatter seed where it will not grow in a good or healthy way; in other words, abstain from sex if you cannot responsibly raise children! So even your own argument condemns you. As for abortion, notice that nowhere in the parable does the Sower approach the seeds that fell on bad soil and squash their young saplings under his boot. Rather, he allows them to grow as they will, poorly, perhaps, but not uprooted or killed by human hands.
What a pathetic example of eisegesis.
Fenton - great point!
Thanks for the heads up, ncr - it is always good to know the talking points in advance.
Rev. Foxy was ordained through the United Church of Christ and before attending seminary—surprise, surprise—was a community organizer.
Christ himself explains the parable of the sower, in Mark 4:13-23. How can someone give a different interpretation, when Jesus already explained it? Mark 4:14: “The sower sows the word.” What else could we call this, then? No matter what we might think about it, Jesus already explained it. Can it be clearer? Then again, Mark 4:11-12 also says “And he said to them, “To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside everything is in parables; so that they may indeed see but not perceive, and may indeed hear but not understand; lest they should turn again, and be forgiven.” Obviously some who think that they know what He was talking about are prevented from understanding.
You miss the point. This is not about promoting choice or promoting abortion. That’s your issue, not the point being made by the Reverend. It is about the call of Jesus to be supportive to those who find themselves facing a challenging pregnancy. As Christians, that is our call, plain and simple. What did you do today to help a girl through her pregnancy or support a newborn or a small child?
“This reverend is he a episcopalian priest or a jesuit priest, I wonder?”
- Unfortunately, is there much difference anymore?
To paraphrase Dr. Nick from The Simpsons, “Hey, this guy must have gone to Hollywood Upstairs Theology School too.!”
If it’s the same, and it certainly could be, he is a Dominican priest. http://www.ewtn.com/library/ANSWERS/FOX.HTM
@Kevin Aldrich: Saul Alinsky and Barack Obama were community organizers. Saul Alinsky dedicated his book to the devil and asked God to send him to hell. Alinsky admitted to the existence of God only to reject God. Obama will best be remembered for ordering children who survive abortion to be left to die alone in a closet without medical assistance.How can Obama represent pro-life citizens?
@Kim D in Wi. Keep your head on. We are going into battle and God will provide
You’re right Mary De Voe!
“For the sake of His sorrowful passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world!!!”
Too much time being spent by us all reading and writing about this non-event. He’s clearly a nut job so we should just move on.
That Danny Bonaduce is a moron. Liked the Partridge Family though.
If you wish to be a little sickned , do a google search on him and the org. he is part of. And if that is not enough just add to that the video on youtube where he praises the work of DR. Tiller for providing abortions and saving lives by doing so .
I think he works part-time at MSNBC,in the religion bureau. Just jokin, folks. God bless!
@Cocon, So, if I didn’t do something today, “to help a girl through her pregnancy or support a newborn or a small child,” then I have to permit abortion? So, we are only allowed to have views on moral issues on those days we do something for other people? I don’t remember Jesus saying “Blessed are they who are supportive to those who find themselves facing a challenging pregnancy,” thought that is a good thing to do. He certainly did say keep the commandments, one of which is, “Thou shalt not murder.”
FROM THE SCRIPTURES, IF FEW WORDS OR PARTS OF SENTENCE ARE CULLED OUT, MEANINGS NOT AT ALL INTENDED CAN BE DRAWN. THE PURPOSE OF SUCH EXERCISE IS TO MALIGN GOD, JESUS, CHURCH AND NOTHING ELSE. THAT IS WHY THE CATHLIC CHURCH HOLDS THAT ITS MAGESTERIUM ONLY IS THE AUTHORITY TO INTERPRETE THE SCRIPTURE
IT IS HIGHTIME THE PREFIX REV. IS REMOVED FROM REV. MATHEW WESTFOX
Just another false teacher.
Look at this guy! Surely no one can take him seriously, what happened to religion teaching that abstinence was best, and that pre-marital sex is wrong. I know that young people are still going to go out and have sex, but how is a “man of God” okay with saying that killing a baby is alright because you feel you are not ready to be a parent. If you aren’t ready to be a parent, then you weren’t ready for the responsibility that came with having sex in the first place. God help this world.
He isn’t one of us, so I don’t care. For all those unaware, Mr. Westfox is part of the Unitarian Universalist’s, amongst others (reference: http://www.allsoulsbethlehem.org/). Take care and God bless! ~M.W.
I had many dialogues or debates with good, intelligent and prayerful people who from same texts of Bible come to different or oposite conclusions. Through such experiences I came to following position to which until now I havent heard any convincing critique.
My position is as follows. Whatever nice, beautiful and truthful exists in any religion, christian denomination, worldview ( atheistic or agnostic ), it also exists in Catholic faith. But in Catholic faith exist some nice and beautiful contents which does not exist in any other religion, christian denomination or worldview.
One of most important is possibility to find out what is reality about God and human person, how should we truthfully explaion texts from Bible etc.Jesus promised me that if I want to know reality of His demand on me how to behave or reality about Himself and human person, I have to take neccessary efforts to find out what is authentic and true position of Cath.Church about issue, and I will find exactly what Jesus want from me and what is reality about Himself and me.
Jesus Christ true God and true man would act very superficially if He would not secure mechanism for any of us to find His exact position about God, human person and correct relationship between human persons and toward God.
Regarding issue of relationship toward unborn child I argue that it is question of simple justice understandable and acceptable by all regardless of their religiosity or atheism. Whatever I am, I started to exist at time of inseparable unification of two littgle parts of my father and my mother bodies called sperm and ovum. It is unjust, dishonest and against any kind of love or kindness to interrupt my existence at any moment of my existence, three minutes, three hours, three yrears or 50 years after.
When as University student I showed to my collegue that all his arguments in favour of abortion are not good, he said:“You are against abortion because You are Catholic”. I answered:“You are insulting me, You just said that in case I would not be Catholoic that I would agree with termination of existence of small, defensless and innocent human. I am against abortion because I want to be honest and just person”.
Matthew Westfox is ordained through the United Church of Christ. He is listed as an associate pastor at All Souls Bethlehem Church in Brooklyn, New York according to the “Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice” website (http://www.rcrc.org/issues/speakers.cfm).
This poor man is really confused, he needs our prayers, I just pray that the people he taks to, understand he is dead wrong.
this guy is sooo off and out of text with the scriptures.
How can he think that “ONLY IN A (PERFECT SITUATOIN) SHOUD WE ALLOW AN INNOCENT NBORN LIFE LIVE” that is so stupid, there is no such thing.
Like some people would say, “In a perfect world” there is no auch thing as that. not until Jesus returns.
I found this article, as well as the priest it is referring to, particularly offensive. I felt there appeared to be an insinuation in the words “If there is not enough light or too many weeds or other circumstances that make the ground unfit, the seed will not grow;” that it would be considered to be acceptable to abort a child that ld would be disabled in some fashion.
I was born with multiple birth defects and I was blessed with parents who raised me as if I was a non-disabled child. Unfortunately, there are more than a few would-be parents that would have considered me, unacceptable and aborted me and any other disabled baby that wasn’t just right. Admittedly being the parent of a disabled child is full of challenges, but, so is raising ANY child. If a couple do not feel up to the rigors and prefer to miss out on the unique blessings of a child who doesn’t make the cut,so to speak, there is another option available,specifically,adoption.
Hopefully, I am just being overly sensitive, but what if I am not?
AND they publish this crap? Hey editors, I have a cow that flies can you interview me so I can tell you about it and have a forum? This way I can attract other people who say they are Christian and are not and I can make money. You people suck
P.S. This guy must be totally pro-life and he’s lying. There is just no way he’s this stupid, and I don’t care what he’s smoking as someone above eluded.
Westfox is a UCC minister
Why are we even having a discussion about this? They’re Protestants, they believe whatever suits their liking and interpret Scriptures in whatever way they want to.
Clearly, he misses the obvious conclusion that no one was killing the seed in the parable. Some seed in the parable will not grow - as is true with man’s seed. Some will, and will not survive - again true with man’s. But some will grow, as with man’s, but nothing in this parable shows man decided which “should” grow, or “doesn’t have the right conditions to grow.” Life is according to God’s will, not man’s. One of the best preacher’s on marriage that I have ever heard grew up in East LA, the son of a single teenager who worshiped budda. He is totally sold out for the Lord. What Christian might have helped her decide this man of God should never be born, as he didn’t have the right soil to grow in?
Whoops,I was so aggravated that I missed what his affiliation is! Sorry!
Then these “parents” should refrain from creating a life, not destroy it once it has been created!!
Once it has been “introduced,” it’s too late to use this parable!!
When people become their own absolute they can justify anything they want. By not embracing the truth one can twist the truth to portray any perspective one wants. Holding the truth in unrightesouness allows this skewed perception to rationalize whatever one wants. Embracing Truth and accepting that God’s Word is the infallible Truth leads one to the Light!
[1] Jesus would never have coerced anyone. The decision to abort is the Woman’s – and the Woman’s alone! And, she – and she alone—has to answer to Our Lord on her last day.
[2] She does not have to answer to the Pope, or the pro-life Catholics who reliably crawl out of the woodwork every time this subject comes up. And, that includes you, Archbold.
[3] So, everyone who does not have a Womb, from the Pope to Archbold, had better butt out of the abortion debate. You have no locus standi in the matter.
[4] And, those who do have a Womb – what a Woman does is none of your business. It is between her and her God.
Aren’t there any better things for Catholics, from the Pope down to Archbold, to do—besides this unhealthy interest in what goes on between a Woman’s legs? Regards…..Egbert F Bhatty
This fellow has the most twisted view of our Lords words that I’ve ever encountered. I pray that he receives a personal visit from the Holy Spirit ASAP to untangle his thought processes. Maybe he only made these remarks as an attempt to get attention and his “15 minutes of fame”. That, if true, is pitiful and he needs the prayers of all.
Dear egbert,
My wife and myself work for long time promoting true, irrevocable, unconditional, tender and mature parental love toward children, born and unborn.
By our experience and insights the fathers of unborn children, as a group, are more responsible for death of their children then mothers.
Argments:
1. We never met, or heard about a woman who was loved by father of her unborn child by true manly, irrevocable, unconditional, tender, respectful, active, serious and mature love,and who would love their common unborn child with similar love, who (woman) would ask for death of her unborn child.
2. we are constantly meeting woman who despite father of her unborn child ran away and abandoned her, or said:“You do what You wanr”, i.e. saying “I do not care about our child”, or who would try to talk her or force her to ask for death of their common child, woman who despite such behaviour of father of her child, would anyway accept her child, gave him or her birth and love and care for a child a rest of her life.
Woman, mothers of unborn, who ask for death of their children are also victims of abortion, and many of them later are sorry for giving up under pressure.
This is horrible. How in the world can you twist biblical scripture into supporting abortion? Aborting a child is much like treating that fetus like you would the family dog. If you don’t want the family dog, you can take that dog to the vet and have it euthanized and it is legal. When you abort a baby, you give that unborn fetus thee same rights you would the FAMIY DOG. Surely, your unborn child deserves more rights than the family hound dog?
This pastor really needs to study his scripture : the parable of the seed ( the occasion of that parable - Sermon on the Sea- Shore , Galilee) The lesson of the parable is: The internal Power of Truth. ( Mark 4:26-29) this was the first group of parable on a large scale. The internal power of truth which the parable explains , The earth bringing forth fruit of itself.This parable illustrates from common facts of nature . ( Matthew 13 is another example) this parable is peculiar to the Gospel of Mark , another peculiar parable to the Gospel of Mark ( Household watching: Mount of Olives , Mark 13:34-35) .Christ’s parables illustrates the nature and principles of the Gospel dispensation , the mysteries ,I.e. Revealed secrets of the kingdom of heaven. The pastor is in great error, there is a distinction between Seed and Seed Time. This parable is clearly illustrating internal truths of common facts of nature . Seed tine - in Palestine ,this season extends over a period of about two months , from October to December ( Genesis 8:22)
Seed - aside from it’s ordinary sense, this word is used in a great many passages of the bible to mean progeny ,descendants, offspring ( Genesis 3:15;12:7;13:15-16) .
This Parable of Mark 4:26-29 is Aldo seen in the Doctrine of Eschatology : the Millennium - the growth of the kingdom of God. ( cross reference Matthew 13:31-32 which gives the testimony as well) the prophetic utterance of the growth of the kingdom of God ( Daniel 2:34-35)
Theologically , what Jesus meant in reference to the kingdom ,in a series parable in Mark 4 and Matthew 13 , Jesus explains more about the ” mystery of the kingdom of God . It is not visible to all , but only to those with God - given eyes to see. So God has already established his rule in the coming of Jesus, yet it is still has to work itself out to it’s full potential. In the meantime a secret, a paradox, rejected by some, but for others the one great treasure for which they will sell all they have ( Matthew 13:44-46)
Remember in Mark ‘s Gospel presents Jesus as the prophet , Mark 6:3 is the only New Testament passage where Jesus is described as “Son of Mary ” , although some impotent manuscript read ” The Don of the Carpenter”
Lastly this parable of the Seed ( Mark 4:26-29) should never be used for any Pro- Abortion lectures ,it is the teaching of a false prophet
I read his name as Matthew Fox who is a wacky former Catholic priest.
TRUST IN GOD’S WISDOM
There once was a man who proclaimed he did not believe in God. “God could never love anyone and if he existed, I would insist that he prove it to me”, he often proclaimed to friends. “God takes lives all the time and the poor and down-trodden are first on the menu”, he would say further. Even though the man was often kind to people all throughout his life, he believed that one should live life to the fullest in every way. He also believed strongly that a woman had every right to an abortion, and if she chose to do so, it was her business only.
One day the man found himself in front of an abortion clinic watching women walk in as protestors were praying and begging the pregnant women not to go in the clinic. A woman who was protesting began talking loudly to a young pregnant woman who was walking into the clinic. This immediately enraged the man and he began yelling at and cursing the woman who was protesting and others began to join in.
The young woman walking into the clinic became scared and upset at both the woman protesting and the man, and immediately turned and ran away from the clinic. This enraged the man and others even more and they escalated their yelling and insults toward the woman protestor. The woman protestor cried and left the scene.
Many, many years later the man was in a serious car accident and was thrown from the car. As he lay dying, many people consoled him as an ambulance rushed to the scene. A young priest who had also been called to the scene began to perform last rites. The man, although in terrible pain and very terrified, gruffly said to the priest, “Don’t waste your breath with that prayer, Father, I’m not a Catholic and even if I was, God has never gone out of his way to help me – take a good look”.
The priest gently smiled at the man and stopped saying the last rites. After a few seconds, the priest began to softly recite the Divine Chaplet of Mercy. “For the sake of His Sorrowful Passion, have Mercy on us and the whole world”, he recited over and over. The man peacefully passed into darkness.
Suddenly, a great light engulfed the man along with great love. The man was more afraid than ever as he knew he was in the presence of God. He asked what was happening and who it was that he was speaking to. He asked this because he could only see one form but felt there were others in the area as well.
“I am Jesus, Son of the Living God, and you have been born to a new life. We are here to judge your life on earth”. Immediately, as in a video, the man began to see his entire life in review. The good and the bad.
Many times when he helped the poor, other times when he freely partook in sins of the flesh. Times when he helped the elderly, and times when he intentionally hurt other people. The life review seemed to stop as quickly as it had started and the man felt ashamed.
Quickly, however, the man recovered, and recalled what he had said to friends during his life. “What chance did I have when my creator never showed any effort to reach out to me with love?” “Why did you not even try a little to help save me from myself?”.
The Lord looked lovingly at the man and played back the life scene in front of the abortion clinic. The man was mortified as he watched himself become enraged. He was overcome with resign and asked the Lord what happened to the woman protestor who had left the scene those many years ago.
The Lord responded, “She was called to me a few days later, she had accomplished her mission”.
“And what of the woman that decided not to have an abortion that day?”, he asked.
“She bore a healthy son and passed to me after childbirth, she had accomplished her mission”.
The man looked down and felt very sad. He slowly looked up and softly said to the Lord, “I wish I would have met her son; that I could know what he looks like and see how he turned out in life”. But, I never did, and yet you show me these images anyway.” Lord, can you not show me one instance in my life where you went out of your way even a little bit to show the extent of your love for me”?.
“You met her son at the twilight of your life”, said the Lord, “He will be joining us soon – he has accomplished his mission”. “Come, let us go to heaven”.
The man felt happy, relieved, and curious all at once, and felt compelled to ask Jesus two final questions. “Who was this woman’s son and what was his mission?” , asked the man.
“He was a simple priest who believed in God’s Mercy, and you were his mission”, responded three voices.
This is hilarious. You guys are getting pissed at him, but you’ve been twisting the Bible around for centuries. If you think this is bad, why don’t you start killing adulterers like the Bible says? You can’t say what he thinks is completely wrong if you’re going to be huge hypocrites in the meantime.
C, the Bible does not command us to kill adulterers; it commanded a specific group at a specific time to do so. This is not the format for an extended discourse on hypocrisy or the “twisting” of Scripture, but do remember that the Church WROTE the Bible (inasmuch as every writer of the New Testament was an Apostle in the Roman Catholic Church), not the other way around.
Calling him a “Pastor” should be used lightly. Out to pasture would better suit him.
Well, the Evangelical Covenant Church reportedly ran an article in their Denomination magazine in spring 05 shortly after the Terri Schiavo legally sanctioned murder, talking about how it shouldn’t be thought of as unnatural to ‘let’ someone die like this, it’s very natural and peaceful blah blah… so why should we be surprised…
Dude, he looks like Jimmy Akin crossed with Adam Savage (of Mythbusters fame).
C, are Christians bound by the Old Law or the New Covenant?
If you can’t answer that question, that you are extremely ignorant of both Biblical and Catholic theology, and you need to study up on what you oppose. Otherwise all you’re doing is attacking a straw man.
UHHHHHHHHHHH…..don’t get pregnant…..it’s not the baby’s fault !!!!!!!!!! Rev. ????? in this SICK SOCIETY we live in I’m sure you’ll influence many with this “garbage”!!!!!!!!!!!!
Michael S.
Here’s his bio.
Reverend Matthew Westfox is the National Coordinator for Field Services for the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice. He also serves as Associate Pastor of All Souls Bethlehem Church in Brooklyn, New York, and is ordained through the United Church of Christ. Before attending seminary at Pacific School of Religion, Reverend Westfox was a community organizer for New York Lawyers for the Public Interest and a legislative aide for New York State Senator Thomas K. Duane.
I guess this false prophet forgets that god himself punished the children of Israel for burning their babies in the fire. When they worshipped BAAL that was the sacfrice, babies thrown alive into the fire.
abortion is destruction of human life. I’ll end with this.
Then the word of the lordcame unto me, saying
Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee.
Jeremiah 1:4-5a
There are Protestants, and there are Protestants. A few correspondents here seem to think that Protestantism inevitably leads to carelessness with Scripture. Many Protestants I know are exceedingly respectful of Scripture, and endeavor earnestly to interpret it responsibly and accurately. Some of them even consult the Church fathers occasionally. Their problem is not a low view of Scripture, but an inadequate view of the Church. As for the Universalist/Unitarians, I think Catholic/Orthodox Christians have more in common with the Jehovah’s Witnesses.
One look at this guy told me he wasn’t either and Episcopalian, Jesuit or Dominican. The Episcopalians are a cut way over his head; ditto for even the most over-the-top Post-Vatican II Kumbayaesque Liberal Jesuit and Dominican.
This clerical character is something else. (Indeed!)Just lookinga at him with his “Let’s all find ways of not taking firm stances so nobody will be put off by any demonstration of backbone” look indelibly stamped all over his dopey mug.
Rest assured this guy is the darling, the cat’s meow, of all the uber-libs of his burg. Ever so smooth, ever so politically correct. Well, they can have his kind until they realize that the same mealy-mouth argument he uses to excuse taking an unborn’s life can (and in so many different words and ways) used by mad monarchs, dark princes, robber barons, dictators and errant legislative bodies to justify unjust wars and various forms of genocide from the beginnings of time to the present age.
And this was his idea of an ideal Easter message? Every age and generation has its traitors. It’d be unfair to compare him to Judas, however. At least Judas’ conscience was scarred so deeply that he fell beyond grave depression into despair and eventually took his life. This guy excuses the taking of the most innocent lifes; from a pulpit on Easter Sunday, no less.
@Steven I share your mistrust of Jesuits and wouldnt have been completely surprised had this guy turned out to be one.
Whereas the Jesuit order was formed as the “intellectual stormtroopers of the faith” by Ignatius Loyola and Pope Paul III and formerly could be counted upon to be the most able and staunchest defenders of Catholicism, these days it seems they are more likely to be heretics and sexual sinners. There is something I believe in their heritage as intellectuals that makes them feel they are just too smart to follow some silly old pope or religion. So many of them that I have met over the years were arrogant and self satisfied. And it goes without saying that you visit any Jesuit University such as Marquette, Loyola, or De Paul and you will see Catholicism given only passing mention by a faculty of priests who are living decidedly non Christian lives.
I apologize to any Jesuits reading this who do not fit my generalization. Considering who the Jesuits are, their heritage and training, we should see Jesuits as the leaders in our Church today delivering the Catholic message skillfully and reverently. Instead they seem to be at the forefront of those attempting to tear it down.
That said, very glad Westfox is not a Catholic.
“Reverend Westfox was a community organizer…”
Hmm-m… community organizer... where have I heard that before???
Oh yeah… now I remember… I think it was about some other person also exhibiting ‘extraordinary intelligence’ in the Washington, D.C. area.
Wow… for some reason that very ‘difficult’ and ‘highly skilled’ position of community organizer certainly seems to be a very popular ‘entry’ level job lately.
Hmm-m… I wonder why??? LOL
@M Colins. I should’ve narrowed my snarky jibe at the Jesuits more than a bit out of fairness to the memory of one of western Mass’ and UMass/Amherst’s most beloved clerics and long time director of the largest Newman Center, Fr. J. Joseph “Fr. Joe” Quigley, SJ, aka “Liberator of Bologna.” He co-presided at my wedding nearly 30 years ago and baptized three of our four children. Fr. Joe wasn’t like so many of today’s Kumbaya Jesuits. He could be liberal in his politics, but when it came to defending the Church, he was a tiger. He had a late calling to the priesthood after WWII where he served as a spotter for an artillery unit, something he never failed to poke fun at the Army for and get good laughs during his homilies. He thought the Army was taking more of a chance by assigning him (legally blind! and wearing coke-bottle glasses) to spot the places to fire at than even going straight at the Germans as they marched up the Boot of Italy.
I should’ve also ‘fessed up to another, albeit undisclosed reason for my blanket dig at the Jesuits, I graduated from St. Thomas University, then owned and run by the Order of St. Augustine. It was then (back in 70-74) called Biscayne College, (the BC of the Sunbelt where real Catholicism was still taught) and part of a three-college/university consortium of Villanova University, Biscayne and Merrimack Colleges. Some of our professors would also “make the rounds” between the institutions so we got the benefits of all three schools.
As for the Dominicans, the only experience I had with them was the fact they ran near by Barry College (now University), the “girls Catholic college of greater Miami.” Oh, the nuns were every wary of the barbarians from my alma mater, which hadn’t gone fully coed until I graduated. (Yeah, isn’t there a parable of life hidden in that, perhaps the Lord’s timing? LOL) We were wary of the Order of Preachers as well. Even though my order coughed up some malcontent named Martin Luther, the Dominicans had people fried in public.
The Jesuits used to be known as the Pope’s Marines. But there’s no way even today’s liberal Kumbaya version of the old Papal version of the Corps would put up with this Westfox character. He’s way beyond any left-field foul line in any park. He wouldn’t last a weekend at my college, even with the dorkiest crowd. Since the Dominicans don’t fry guys like Westfox anymore, they’d have to wring their hands and wonder “Boy, if only Torquemada was around, even for just a hearing before drumming this guy out.”
He certainly found a home in the United Church of Chutzpah.
Only Christ can judge. We are only told to love, in thought, word and deed, both God and all of our neighbours. Our best love should be reserved for our enemies and undoubtedly those we profoundly disagree with. It is right to engage in discussion and debate but not ridicule and insult.
One of the best ways to love in a profoundly polar debate like this is to argue the case of your enemy and then move the debate from there, for you cannot argue a case against if you do not know the case for in detail.
Happy loving!
Martin:
Actually, you’re incorrect. Christians (and Catholics) are CALLED to judge.
http://catholicphoenix.com/2011/03/01/yes-catholics-can-judge/
What we can’t do is judge someone’s eternal destination. We can and should judge their actions so that we can call them to repentance.
@Martin,
Agree, so many people have used Scripture such as “judge not lest ye be judged” Matthew 7 vs 1, that what they have actually created for themselves is their own personal church where they purport they are only judged by God. This of course runs counter to the idea of authority important to Catholics. Biblical language is not always explicit and occassionally folks simply deliberately twist Scripture to get it to say the opposite of what it means. One of those ways is to quote out of context or incompletely such as in the above passage where further reading would lead the reader to understand this is not an instruction to not judge so much as it is one to not judge unrighteously or hypocritically.
The idea of not judging is taken by some to ridiculous extremes to a point where one is not even supposed to judge against sin. It is used as a cover by those who want impunity to sin and they attempt to get it by throwing misquoted Scripture at us.
@Martin Faulkner. Apparently you haven’t been informed yet that this isn’t some faculty senate lounge or a “gentleperson’s” debating lounge: “It is right to engage in discussion and debate but not ridicule and insult.”
Ahhh, let me scratch my head on this. We can’t judge, we can’t call somebody a fool ... but I never saw anything in either the Catechism or the Bible saying “Thou shalt not pen parody, even of the most ridiculous, obscene ideas and their off-the-wall proponents”?
Promoting abortion rights from a pulpit on Easter Sunday would qualify, right?
It’s one thing to be polite, and given the putrid political climate today that’s been polluted by some obscenely overpaid “shock jock” or “television talking head” whose sole justifications for their incomes in all reality depend on their ability to keep their stations’ ratings high and sponsors’ bank accounts even higher all due to their prodigious skills in providing verbal atmospherics, the fairly mild paraodying at this character’s expense would hardly upset the Lord.
It, however, should NOT make Satan’s day. As adults, we should all know the Devil is never amused when the laughter’s directed at him or even his most bumbling servants.
When a self-professed Christian cleric of his sort pulls what Westfox did, sans even all pretenses of showing the slightest guilt, on Easter Sunday, something even the naive Judas wouldn’t have thought of, he’s fair game for the raps n’ yuks. Welcome to the real world.
I will add this to the debate which is not intended as ridicule or insult:
Perhaps this pastor’s church should now change its name to “some souls” or “All Souls, Permitted to Live”...? This seems the thrust of his position.
Choose adoption rather than abortion. No need to kill the child. Whatever the circumstances of the mother, it is not the child’s fault.
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