A United Methodist Church pastor led a prayer rally to bless an abortion facility in Ohio earlier this month.
Rev. Laura Young said she believes pro-life advocates have “misguided faith,” according to LifeNews.com. On Oct. 8, she went to the abortion facility, Preterm, to pray for protection over protestors and those who visit the clinic for help.
“Christianity, like most faiths, is founded on love. Watching protesters shouting judgment and hate based on what they call religion is horrible. Is that loving God? Is that loving your neighbor as yourself?”
Young said she plans on visiting other abortion facilities in the state. She already runs a group called the Ohio Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, a counseling hotline for women.
“It breaks my heart to know women are sitting in pews across the country feeling shamed, believing that they’re cursed for making this decision. That’s a question I get a lot on the phone, ‘Am I going to hell?’ When God instead is there to support women through it all.”
The support from the reverend comes after a wave of criticism over undercover videos of Planned Parenthood. The Planned Parenthood Clergy Advocacy Board has said the videos are an “attack” on women’s health care.
“Our religious traditions call us to offer compassion, not judgment. People who work for Planned Parenthood give care and respect to those in need, doing God’s work. For this we are grateful,” the clergy said in a joint statement.
Publication date: October 13, 2015
