On the Square Today

Leroy Huizenga on abortion and the Salvation Army :

It was with concern, then, that I reacted the other day when Facebook and Twitter lit up with reports that the Salvation Army had signaled its approval of abortion under certain limited circumstances. The Army’s Statement of Position on abortion affirms that “all people are created in the image of God and therefore have unique and intrinsic value,” that “Human life is sacred and all people should be treated with dignity and respect,” that “The Salvation Army accepts the moment of fertilisation as the start of human life,” and that “life is a gift from God and we are answerable to God for the taking of life.” But then the Statement gives three situations in which induced abortion is permissible: (1) When “Carrying the pregnancy further seriously threatens the life of the mother”; when (2) “Reliable diagnostic procedures have identified a foetal abnormality considered incompatible with survival for more than a very brief post natal period”; and (3) in cases of rape and incest.

Also today, Patrick J. Reilly notes that the HHS mandate no longer just a Catholic fight :

Also this week, 61 Christian and Orthodox Jewish leaders joined in a letter to President Barack Obama protesting the Health and Human Services (HHS) mandate and its narrow religious exemption. The signers represent colleges, schools, churches, associations and other entities, including prominent organizations like the National Association of Evangelicals, the Council of Christian Colleges and Universities, the Southern Baptist Convention, Focus on the Family and the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America.

Both of these actions have something in common: They did not involve Catholics. And that was intentional.