Comments on: What Does the United Methodist Church Think About . . . Death Penalty, Abortion, Fertility, & Infertility? http://fumcwf.org/archives/2227 . . . a Downtown Tradition of Bringing Faith to Life in Service and Word! Sun, 05 Sep 2010 23:02:40 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Charles Harper http://fumcwf.org/archives/2227/comment-page-1#comment-164 Charles Harper Sun, 21 Feb 2010 20:15:51 +0000 http://fumcwf.org/?p=2227#comment-164 Death Penalty - I do not think a crime should draw the death penalty unless the crime is a murder witnessed by at least 2 people who give coroberating witness stories. We kill several innocent people each year by the death panalty. I saw a story recently that as many as 10% of the executed are innocent, that is not acceptable. We cause our government to carry out the executions and by so it makes us guilty of murder also. The answer to all that is no death penalty. I concur with the UMC position on the Death Penalty. Abortion - Abortion is one of the most horrible things that we do, BUT it is NOT my place to tell a woman what she should do about an unwanted baby. Abortion should be legal after considering birth and adoption and it should be the woman's choice, I go along with the stance the UMC takes on this issue. Fertility & Infertility - WOW, I hate to have to think about this one. Some, IVF is the only way they can have children. I have several good friends that have been fertilized and produced multiple births in each case. Some way it should be limited to on birth unless the parents want serveral. It is a gift from God that should be used after much counseling and prayer. I am not sure what the UMC's stance is on this. Death Penalty – I do not think a crime should draw the death penalty unless the crime is a murder witnessed by at least 2 people who give coroberating witness stories. We kill several innocent people each year by the death panalty. I saw a story recently that as many as 10% of the executed are innocent, that is not acceptable. We cause our government to carry out the executions and by so it makes us guilty of murder also. The answer to all that is no death penalty. I concur with the UMC position on the Death Penalty.

Abortion – Abortion is one of the most horrible things that we do, BUT it is NOT my place to tell a woman what she should do about an unwanted baby. Abortion should be legal after considering birth and adoption and it should be the woman’s choice, I go along with the stance the UMC takes on this issue.

Fertility & Infertility – WOW, I hate to have to think about this one. Some, IVF is the only way they can have children. I have several good friends that have been fertilized and produced multiple births in each case. Some way it should be limited to on birth unless the parents want serveral. It is a gift from God that should be used after much counseling and prayer. I am not sure what the UMC’s stance is on this.

]]> By: Karin Lerew http://fumcwf.org/archives/2227/comment-page-1#comment-161 Karin Lerew Sun, 21 Feb 2010 17:16:38 +0000 http://fumcwf.org/?p=2227#comment-161 Death Penalty - I used to be in favor of it, thinking a serious crime deserved a serious punishment. I also felt that it was a way to prevent any further harm to come to the innocent. In addition, it didn't make sense to support a criminal in prison, thinking that money would be better spent elsewhere. However, my feelings have changed. When I think about a person who is eligible for the death penalty, I honestly think a life sentence would be more of a punishment--total loss of freedom, forever. But, I feel the rest of their life should be spent doing something constructive, to help others. An example being what they are doing in the prison system (I think in Childress?) where the prisoners are growing food, not only for themselves, but hopefully, in the future, to be given to those outside the prison system, who are going hungry. It is in its infancy, but what a great new direction. Punishment for the crime while doing something positive. Abortion -Such a personal decision--who could possibly make it for the mother, but the mother herself? I think the govt should stay away on this one, Fertility/Infertility-Unfortunately, I haven't really given this topic much thought. Probably because I have never faced it. My position right now is "balance." Frequently, a good idea can become a bad idea when goals become the focus, not how you get there. I'm not opposed to IVF-- but it could become a slippery slope, in the hands of an unethical practitioner. Death Penalty – I used to be in favor of it, thinking a serious crime deserved a serious punishment. I also felt that it was a way to prevent any further harm to come to the innocent. In addition, it didn’t make sense to support a criminal in prison, thinking that money would be better spent elsewhere. However, my feelings have changed. When I think about a person who is eligible for the death penalty, I honestly think a life sentence would be more of a punishment–total loss of freedom, forever. But, I feel the rest of their life should be spent doing something constructive, to help others. An example being what they are doing in the prison system (I think in Childress?) where the prisoners are growing food, not only for themselves, but hopefully, in the future, to be given to those outside the prison system, who are going hungry. It is in its infancy, but what a great new direction. Punishment for the crime while doing something positive.

Abortion -Such a personal decision–who could possibly make it for the mother, but the mother herself? I think the govt should stay away on this one,

Fertility/Infertility-Unfortunately, I haven’t really given this topic much thought. Probably because I have never faced it. My position right now is “balance.” Frequently, a good idea can become a bad idea when goals become the focus, not how you get there. I’m not opposed to IVF– but it could become a slippery slope, in the hands of an unethical practitioner.

]]> By: Dawn Yadlosky http://fumcwf.org/archives/2227/comment-page-1#comment-160 Dawn Yadlosky Sun, 21 Feb 2010 00:54:20 +0000 http://fumcwf.org/?p=2227#comment-160 Death Penalty -- I am not against it. I believe it should be used as a tool for the greater good/love. Not from anger, revenge, or hate. But there are times that you can love someone or something and know it is the right thing to do to put them down. For instance a family dog that gets rabid - old yeller. The problem is saying/believing it and applying it are very different things and having the death penalty opens the door for killing from hate/revenge/... which is wrong in my view. Abortion -- I think it is wrong. However, I think it is the woman's choice and the energy folks put into fighting the legal right to an abortion would be better applied to identifying and addressing the needs, education, ... of individuals who are getting in that predicament and then opt for what appears to be an easy/no responsibility solution. Fix the root cause that drives the desire/need for an abortion, teach it, promiscuity,... are wrong. Teach taking responsibility for mistakes... rather than make the abortion illegal. The latter is just taking the easy route, treating the symptom and wiping the hands of the communities responsibilities instead of curing and working on the underlying disease which would be harder to tackle but much more worthwhile. Fertility/infertility -- I swing back and forth on these and whether we should tamper with life/Gods purview. But if I say that we shouldn't then I also have to consider the appropriateness of us tampering with things like organ replacement... I think the dominoes overwhelm me so I haven't spent as much time forming my opinion on these. I'm particularly interested in hearing the church's viewpoint on this one. Death Penalty — I am not against it. I believe it should be used as a tool for the greater good/love. Not from anger, revenge, or hate. But there are times that you can love someone or something and know it is the right thing to do to put them down. For instance a family dog that gets rabid – old yeller. The problem is saying/believing it and applying it are very different things and having the death penalty opens the door for killing from hate/revenge/… which is wrong in my view.

Abortion — I think it is wrong. However, I think it is the woman’s choice and the energy folks put into fighting the legal right to an abortion would be better applied to identifying and addressing the needs, education, … of individuals who are getting in that predicament and then opt for what appears to be an easy/no responsibility solution. Fix the root cause that drives the desire/need for an abortion, teach it, promiscuity,… are wrong. Teach taking responsibility for mistakes… rather than make the abortion illegal. The latter is just taking the easy route, treating the symptom and wiping the hands of the communities responsibilities instead of curing and working on the underlying disease which would be harder to tackle but much more worthwhile.

Fertility/infertility — I swing back and forth on these and whether we should tamper with life/Gods purview. But if I say that we shouldn’t then I also have to consider the appropriateness of us tampering with things like organ replacement… I think the dominoes overwhelm me so I haven’t spent as much time forming my opinion on these. I’m particularly interested in hearing the church’s viewpoint on this one.

]]> By: Janet Powell http://fumcwf.org/archives/2227/comment-page-1#comment-157 Janet Powell Sat, 20 Feb 2010 22:34:49 +0000 http://fumcwf.org/?p=2227#comment-157 I am in favor of the death penalty but am also struggling with it like Laura. People who kill and/or molest children or people with no remorse deserve to be put to death but I don't feel I can judge people like I felt I did in the past. I pray that we find a better solution to help people who hurt others...mostly because they are hurting so much themselves. I don't know the answer but there has to be something better. I feel that abortion is an option that should be left to the individual but pray for a better solution for women. I don't understand the issue with fertility or infertility but feel a child should be brought into a family who loves and wants him or her so much that they would do anything they could for them. It is a very important decision that needs more counceling, prayer and discussion than marriage. However, I don't believe many of us put the thoughts and planning into parenthood like we should I am in favor of the death penalty but am also struggling with it like Laura. People who kill and/or molest children or people with no remorse deserve to be put to death but I don’t feel I can judge people like I felt I did in the past. I pray that we find a better solution to help people who hurt others…mostly because they are hurting so much themselves. I don’t know the answer but there has to be something better.

I feel that abortion is an option that should be left to the individual but pray for a better solution for women. I don’t understand the issue with fertility or infertility but feel a child should be brought into a family who loves and wants him or her so much that they would do anything they could for them. It is a very important decision that needs more counceling, prayer and discussion than marriage. However, I don’t believe many of us put the thoughts and planning into parenthood like we should

]]> By: Laura Nix http://fumcwf.org/archives/2227/comment-page-1#comment-155 Laura Nix Sat, 20 Feb 2010 19:17:09 +0000 http://fumcwf.org/?p=2227#comment-155 Death Penalty--I use to be in favor of it, but now am more against it. A few crimes deserve that penalty, like serial killers and drug dealers because they distroy so many other lives for pleasure or profit. Abortion--I'm against it, but it should be legal for those who need that option. Fertility & Infertility--are two different gifts from God that help to guide our life and service. Does the church have more to say than that? Death Penalty–I use to be in favor of it, but now am more against it. A few crimes deserve that penalty, like serial killers and drug dealers because they distroy so many other lives for pleasure or profit.

Abortion–I’m against it, but it should be legal for those who need that option.

Fertility & Infertility–are two different gifts from God that help to guide our life and service. Does the church have more to say than that?

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