I've been reading Eric Mataxas' biography of German theologian and martyr Dietrich Bonhoeffer - Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy. In the book there is this quote form Bonhoeffer's magnum opus Ethics on the subject of abortion:
"Destruction of the embryo in the mother's womb is a violation of the right to live which God has bestowed upon this nascent life. To raise the question whether we are here concerned already with a human being or not is merely to confuse the issue. The simple fact is that God certainly intended to create a human being and that this nascent human being has been deliberately deprived of his life. And that is nothing but murder."
Christian opposition to abortion did not start in 1973 with Roe v. Wade. Christians have always been opposed to abortion, going back to the early church in Roman times.
Bonhoefer was right!
Very nicely said and noted. I teach some Bonhoeffer and I am grateful when people do not seek to capture him for a particular ideology. This statement would make progressive Christians cringe but it is Bonhoeffer for real. Thanks.
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