“Human life begins at conception. Human life is a continuum from the moment of conception to the moment of death. The only possible justification for the interruption of a pregnancy would be in the extremely rare situation in which an abortion is performed in order to save the life of the mother. Abortion performed for any other reason is the deliberate taking of human life and is equivalent to murder.” This statement forms the basis of the official position taken by the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada, “The Christian Alterative to abortion.”
The National Coordinator of Social Concerns and Public Relations, Hudson T. Hilsden, was commissioned by the General Executive of The Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada to produce the position paper in August 1983. The paper is the result of the research of 32 doctors, lawyers, clergymen, writers, and lay persons. It has gained wide acceptance in the denomination and in many political, legal and medical circles. Pro-life organizations and churches throughout North America have applauded the position taken by the P.A.O.C.
The paper calls upon Christians to provide protection, care and love for the newborn child and the mother, and counsel and forgiveness for those who have already experienced an abortion. Christians are urged to protest against the practice of abortion-on-demand and the laws that permit it.
The paper recommends that churches provide sex education and family planning programs as well as counseling centres. Parents are urged to take an active role in the community and the public school system to help to reverse the present high rate of abortion in Canada.
Copies of “The Christian Alternative to Abortion” may be obtained by writing to:
The Office of Information,
The Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada,
10 Overlea Blvd.,
Toronto, Ontario,
M5H 1A5.
