"Developing and preparing the next generation of pro-choice clergy"; Pro-Abortion Religious Group Promotes Course on "Theology and Reproductive Choice".(Chicago Theological Seminary)

You'd think "Thou Shall Not Kill" would pretty much settle the abortion matter for believers, but now from the Chicago Theological Seminary (CTS) and the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice (RCRC) there's a whole new course - - "Theology and Reproductive Choice" - - to "teach seminary students theological perspectives on reproductive freedom as a distinct subject," according to RCRC's web page.

The course was developed by Laurel Schneider, associate professor of theology and culture at CTS, and was given at the seminary in the fall 2004 semester.

"Theology and Reproductive Choice," we're told, "examines contemporary issues such as religious authority over moral decision making, the role of religion in developing public policy about reproductive issues, and sexual ethics."

RCRC is contacting theology professors to introduce the course. "Seminary faculty will use the curriculum to create and teach their own courses, thereby bringing the religious and theological issues surrounding the choice debate into individual seminary settings," according to the RCRC web page.

Elsewhere on the RCRC site, the group says that its "pioneering" Seminarians for Choice project is "developing and preparing the next generation of pro-choice clergy." According to an article that appeared in 2004, there are seven active "Seminarians for Choice" groups.

They are found at United Theological Seminary in Minneapolis; Eden Theological Seminary in St. Louis; Harvard and Princeton Theological Seminaries; the Graduate Theological Seminary in Berkeley; Union Theological Seminary in New York City; and the Boston University School of Theology.

The Chicago Theological Seminary is a United Church of Christ (UCC) seminary, according to John Brown, President of the United Church of Christ Friends for Life. "Speaking personally, I am not surprised at this move though it is indeed sad, and outrageous, to see how far removed the position of the UCC leadership on life issues is from the theological stance of its spiritual forbears," he said. "The loss of biblical authority, and the theological understandings built upon it with regard to respect for human life and dignity, have led to positions nearly opposite those which prevailed only a generation or so ago."