In the latter part of 2009 a mother of four was admitted to a hospital in Phoenix. She was in the first trimester of a pregnancy and the right side of her heart had ceased to function. After careful and prayerful consideration Sister Margaret McBride, the hospital administrator, granted permission for the baby to be aborted. It was the only way to save the mother who had four children at home who needed her. Sister McBride is a highly respected member of the Sisters of Mercy and had an unblemished record but she had broken church law. The Bishop of the Phoenix diocese forthwith excommunicated her taking away her rights to communion and any other sacrament.
I mention this because it is a classic example of following the letter of the law and forgetting the spirit of the law. In Mark 2 Jesus commends David for feeding his men the shewbread from the temple because his men were in need of food. It was a clear violation of temple law. Only the priests were to eat the shewbread. David’s men with all the notches on their spear shafts could hardly be considered priests. Over and over Jesus sought to have us understand that people are more important than laws. Laws are made to protect people and when they do the opposite principles come into operation. In Galatians Paul says the entire law is summed up in how we treat others.
Solomon once said there is a time to kill. Sister McBride’s dilemma was which one was to die, the mother or the developing baby. If we think this was an easy decision it is only because we have never had to do so.
Written by Roger Bothwell on June 10, 2010
Spring of Life Ministry, PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574
Rogerbothwell.org