Declaration of Arizona Pastors in Defense of Voiceless Children and Vulnerable Women
THE DECLARATION
Declaration of Arizona Pastors in Defense of Voiceless Children and Vulnerable Women
To save the lives of innocent children, to protect the health of women, to help people avoid a terrible regret, and to show love to our neighbors, we, as Christian pastors in Arizona, declare the following:
- Whereas every human life is valuable because every human life, born and pre-born, is wonderfully made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27; Psalm 139:13-14).
- Whereas abortion is the ending of an innocent human life, and results in danger and hurt towards women (Exodus 21:22-25; Genesis 9:6).
- Whereas the church is here to compassionately serve and support vulnerable women (1 John 3:18, Psalm 82:3-4).
- Whereas abortion is not a political issue, but a biblical and moral one (Mark 12:17).
- Whereas effort is underway to change the Arizona Constitution to allow children to be aborted during all nine months of development in the womb.
The undersigned Arizona pastors urge every person to refuse to provide a signature to put the “Arizona Abortion Access Act” (Prop 139) on the ballot and should also vote against the Act, or any similar measure, if it appears on the ballot (Proverbs 6:16-17, Ephesians 5:11).
Read the declaration in spanish (español )
Abortion is a biblical issue
3 Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed. 4 Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked. – Psalm 82:3-4 (NIV)
PURPOSE OF THE DECLARATION
This declaration is a grassroots effort designed to unify Arizona Christian pastors around the sanctity of human life while providing a clear voice against the proposed “Arizona Abortion Access Act” (Prop 139) that will most likely be on the ballot November 2024.
The proposed constitutional amendment called “The Abortion Access Act” makes abortion a “fundamental right” in Arizona. It puts that newly created right above the health and safety of girls and women and the life of the unborn. The amendment is written so broadly that, according to attorney analysis, it:
- Allows unlimited abortion up to birth under the broad “mental health” exemption that is frequently used to rubber stamp late-term abortion. Most voters oppose late term abortion.
- Removes most safety standards at abortion clinics and forbids any regulation that would get in the way of someone getting an abortion.
- Eliminates the required qualified medical doctor needed to detect potential complications that put girls’ and women’s health and safety at risk.
- Gives broad leeway to who can provide abortions, leaving girls and women in the hands of unqualified providers who have no expertise in obstetrics.
- Shuts out moms and dads when their minor daughter needs them most by removing a requirement that parents are informed prior to their minor daughter getting an abortion.
- Shields sex offenders who force their victims to get abortions to cover their crimes by forbidding punishment of anyone who “aids or assists” in someone getting an abortion.
- Opens the door to taxpayer funded abortions.
- Threatens conscience protections for healthcare workers, forcing them to participate in abortion.
Finally, the Arizona Abortion Access Act (Prop 139) is an assault on God’s value and sovereignty regarding the sanctity of human life. These are some of the many reasons why Christian pastors are strongly unified in opposing this horrific ballot measure.