04279
June 10, 2004

Correction

by Jerry L. Van Marter

      A General Assembly “backgrounder” on abortion (story #04260, June 2, 2004) incorrectly reported that Presbyterian Church (USA) abortion policy dates back to 1983 and that early church policy on abortion supported a woman’s right to choose “with virtually no reservations.”

      The General Assemblies of both PC(USA) predecessor denominations both first  adopted policy statements on abortion in 1970.

      The United Presbyterian Church in the United States of America, stated, in part: “the artificial or induced termination of pregnancy is a matter of the careful ethical decision of the patient, . . . and therefore should not be restricted by law . . .” The Presbyterian Church in the United States declared that “induced abortion is the willful destruction of the fetus” but said “the willful termination of a pregnancy by medical means on the considered decision of a pregnant woman may on occasion be morally justifiable,” such as cases of “physical or mental deformity, conception as a result of rape or incest, conditions under which the physical or mental health of either mother or child would be gravely threatened, or the socio-economic condition of the family.”

      General Assemblies have subsequently affirmed the principles set forth in Roe v. Wade, which allowed women to choose abortion in the early stages of pregnancy without interference from the state. That Supreme Court decision also holds that the state may regulate abortion in some ways during the middle stages of pregnancy and in the final trimester may prohibit abortion altogether.