What's a Blessing?

[Elisabeth Dewey]

I recently came upon Cambridge dean Ragsdale's 2007 speech calling abortion a blessing.

 

Here are the quotes near the end of her speech:

'These are the two things I want you, please, to remember – abortion is a blessing and our work is not done. Let me hear you say it: abortion is a blessing and our work is not done. Abortion is a blessing and our work is not done. Abortion is a blessing and our work is not done.

I want to thank all of you who protect this blessing – who do this work every day: the health care providers, doctors, nurses, technicians, receptionists, who put your lives on the line to care for others (you are heroes — in my eyes, you are saints); the escorts and the activists; the lobbyists and the clinic defenders; all of you. You're engaged in holy work.'

 

It sounds like she's equating what abortionists do to Office of the Keys.

 

Our congregation is in transition, soon to lose our priest-in-charge.  We potentially will not have the services of a priest for some time.  If the Episcopal Church through it's leadership equates what abortionists do with the Office of the Keys, then why can't any of our members perform the Office of the Keys?  My thinking being if abortions are blessings and everyone in that industry is a hero or saint, there is no point in any one of us needing special ordination to bless, right?  I mean, we're church members, not just health care professionals.