Candlemas Challenge

This article appears in the February Parish Magazine of St Martin-on-the-hill, Scarborough.

CHALLENGE OF THE CANDLEMAS CHILD

As February begins, the Christmas season ends.

Candlemas on the 2nd is the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord in the Temple, 40 days after his birth. It speaks of his mission in the world to be 'alight to enlighten the Gentiles and the glory of his people Israel'.

Each new life from God is given for a purpose. Sadly - and sinfully - many do not make it even from the womb out into the world.

The Church Catechism states that 'every human life, from the moment of conception until death, is sacred because the human person has been willed for its own sake in the image and likeness of the living and holy God'.

As Christians we need to be aware that 'The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill' could reach the House of Commons this month. Our member of parliament, Robert Goodwill, assures me that 'nothing will be put into law until it has faced considerable scrutiny'. He says that he will be active, with others, 'ensuring that any proposals have the best interests of British society at their heart'. I am not sure we can leave it there.

The Archbishop of Canterbury has recently warned in a newspaper article that 'Society risks losing sight of the sanctity of life; 200,000 abortions a year tell their own story'.

Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor says 'Whatever our religious creed or political conviction, abortion on this scale can only be a source of distress and profound anguish for us all'.

The Methodist, Baptist and United Reform churches have also joined the debate as parliament reviews the law: 'What most Christians want to see is further moderation and understanding of the issues'.

When we pray for our politicians, as we regularly do, perhaps we also have a responsibility to be informed about their decision making on our behalf. Maybe we should let them know our views when they are involved in issues like those raised in this bill.

It appears that no Lambeth Conference has so far adopted a pro-life stance on behalf of Anglicans, but a petition is being circulated to put this right. It reads 'I, the undersigned, do hereby ask the 2008 Lambeth Conference to proclaim that the Anglican Communion affirms that human life is a precious gift from God that is to be protected at every stage, from conception to natural death; and to encourage all Anglicans to oppose abortion and euthanasia'. Completed copies should be returned to The Right Revd Henry Scriven, c/o Mrs Anna Pienaar, 6 Lakeside Close, South Norwood, London SE25 2DS. The petition can also be signed online at www.anglicansforlife.org/petition2/index.asp.