Correspondence
CORRESPONDENCE Women-Church cheers Cincinnati, Ohio To the Editors: Thank you for the article on Women-Church by Karen Sue Smith, "Claiming Our Power" [November 6]. The piece is a very fine...
...When that question is answered to the best of our ability, we are able to go on with our lives...
...The coverage of the "Abortion: Moral Perspectives" session should be helpful to your readers and to those who hold perspectives from all sides...
...We Christians often ask it our decisions are in conflict with or in accord with God's teachings...
...There may even come a time when child abuse of all kinds no longer exists, but that time is not now...
...To the Editors: Some years ago you encouraged readers to voice their opinions about you...
...PATRICIA CAMP Moving the movement Portland, Oreg...
...I found the question about making the determination of when abortion is moral or immoral, given that abortion may not always be evil, striking at the heart of the abortion [debate] for many of us...
...If it's a "movement" - let's move...
...A cavil and a canard...
...I wish there were an easy answer, a checklist of the components of a moral decision, an absolute solution...
...When those are answered individually, using whatever guidance we choose, who can stand and tell us that we are wrong...
...That recognition precludes our making a national set of moral standards to be applied whenever a woman has a problem pregnancy...
...I am still left with the power of the closing...
...WILLIAM B. GALLAGHER, M.D...
...Also note the cover with Gorbachev and his hammer and sickle birthmark drinking Classic Commie Cola...
...To the Editors: In response to Karen Sue Smith's stimulating "Claiming Our Power," Women-Church . article [November 6], may I add to the list of concerns...
...We need to find . . . social solutions that make the choice of abortion unnecessary, and make distinctions, establish criteria, and set priorities in all other disciplines and research even to understand what the discipleship of equals is...
...There may come a time when no child is unwanted and all children have good homes where they can flourish...
...There is not, nor do I expect there to be in the near future...
...I am particularly grateful for how sensitively the author spoke about the workshops she attended...
...There will only be those questions which get to the heart of the matter for each individual involved in making a decision which has moral implications: what are the advantages and disadvantages'and can I live with my decision...
...I found many interesting viewpoints in the article, but felt called to write as a Christian woman, participant in the "Abortion: Moral Perspectives" workshop, and state coordinator for Religious Coalition for Abortion Rights of Illinois...
...As coordinator of the entire conference, my participation was very limited...
...Without this kind of freedom, our nation as we know it will not survive...
...There may come a time in our society when having children is valued in the same way as other jobs for which people are paid...
...To the Editors: I recently had the pleasure of reading the article on the Women-Church conference ["Claiming Our Power," November 6...
...All grim purpose and viewing with alarm...
...Smith's words fill me again with the energy in the room as each speaker gave her vision of the future...
...The response was overwhelmingly favorable - all your readers love you...
...Continued on page 27)CORRESPONDENCE (Continued from page 2) One faint criticism surfaced...
...This means that we must not force our own religious views on others who do not share them...
...Although my own church's position differs from that of the Catholic church, I believe that women often face the same dilemmas no matter what their faith background when the issue of abortion arises...
...Those two standards should not overlap - our religious and political/legal-but instead complement one another...
...For society's sake, the divergent religious and moral opinions which surround the issue of abortion must be inclusive rather than exclusive...
...We must remember our diverse heritage and ethnicity when making policy decisions which affect us all...
...After two thousand years, a radical assessment, revision, and meaningful implementation will strengthen problem-solving of Women (and Men)-Church issues...
...The piece is a very fine account of the gathering...
...The legal profession wrestles with these very problems...
...MARIE SCHICKEL ROTTSCHAFFER Wit & writ Tucson, Ariz...
...It was almost a cult phenomenon...
...Some thought you have no sense of humor...
...And in that imperfect world, abortion continues to be an imperfect answer to difficult decisions...
...Our laws are based on both our personal religious convictions and our recognition of the pluralistic quality of our society...
...Thus, I find myself valuing accounts that others write and speak of...
...Let anyone who doubts Commonweal's sense of humor read "The Minutes of the Parents' Meeting" [October 23...
...As a religious body, however, we are free to develop standards which our members are taught to follow...
...DIANN NEU No moral checklist Chicago, Dl...
Vol. 115 • January 1988 • No. 1
