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South Dakota Pastors Urge Voters to Repeal State Abortion Ban
Referendum on Ban to be on the Ballot on November 7



Statement of Pastors for Moral Choices, at news conference on October 10, 2006, in Sioux Falls

We are clergy who are members of Pastors for Moral Choices, an organization of religious leaders in South Dakota committed to God’s call to relate to all people with compassion and love. We want you to know there are religious leaders who believe that a vote to sustain South Dakota’s comprehensive ban on abortion is a vote to return to a regressive, discriminatory and dangerous way of life. In speaking out, we are supporting our denominational standing and statements on abortion. *We recognize that there are people of faith in our congregations who will vote differently. We respect their right to do so, and we speak only for ourselves and not as representatives of our congregations

This abortion ban restricts religious freedom. Many Christian, Jewish and Muslim religious authorities believe that abortion is permissible in the early weeks of a pregnancy and that an abortion may be called for to save the health or life of a pregnant woman. Making abortion illegal would prohibit faithful people from living according to their religious laws, traditions and understandings, without the threat of criminal indictment.

We share a belief in the sanctity of all life, including the unborn, whether it is viewed as potential or actual life. But we are equally bound to respect the sacredness of the life and well-being of the mother, for whom devastating damage may result from an unacceptable pregnancy. In continuity with past Christian teaching, we recognize tragic conflicts of life with life that may make abortion the least objectionable of difficult options.

We believe that pregnancies that are the result of violence against women, including instances of rape, incest and coercion, are especially complex and difficult. We acknowledge that an unplanned pregnancy may result in years of grieving, whether the outcome is increased suffering due to economic and emotional hardship, the giving away of a child, or abortion. We seek to promote social policies that are fair, equitable and above all, merciful.

We are Pastors for Moral Choices, and we encourage you to carefully consider whether you wish to live under a law that will prohibit people of faith from following their consciences as well as force women and girls to carry pregnancies caused by violence or coercion. We will be voting No on referred law 6, the law that would ban abortion, because it is neither just nor compassionate.

This statement was authorized by Pastors for Moral Choices, P.O. Box 1794, Sioux Falls, SD, 57101-1794, www.PastorsForMoralChoices.org.

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