Christian docs take stand on abortion, homosexuality

Christian Medical and Dental Association of Nigeria (CMDA) at its 2013 conference in Abuja, said that what constitutes abortion and murder of a foetus are defined by technology, not society or the foetus.“Who defines the timeline? We believe God does. Every child is a gift. At four weeks the tissues start responding to pain. The […]

Christian Medical and Dental Association of Nigeria (CMDA) at its 2013 conference in Abuja, said that what constitutes abortion and murder of a foetus are defined by technology, not society or the foetus.
“Who defines the timeline? We believe God does. Every child is a gift. At four weeks the tissues start responding to pain. The structures for a full-fledged human being are ready at four weeks. The difference is time and nutrition,” said Dr Chima Anoka, chief executive officer of CMDA.
“People are free to make their choices. If someone decides to go prolife, prochoice, they actually don’t change God’s own standards.”
CMDA also considers homosexuality as a “challenge” that makes individuals appear not to be in the “image of God”.
“The first thing is not to condemn anybody who has tendencies toward homosexuality,” said Dr Anoka. “The second is to provide opportunity to support the person…It’s about helping the person get back to what God made as the right image.”
The association said its stance was unwavering on both issues though their mandate requires them to carry their faith into their professional life.
“We are not going to compromise. It isn’t because everybody is going in the one direction, we [simply] follow them. We will make a difference,” said Dr Ademola Adeyinka, chair of the conference’s organising committee.
The conference deliberated a united front for mission hospitals in hopes of building a stronger health sector that can meet Nigeria’s health challenges, with possible introduction of volunteer work, contributions and Samaritan’s purse that helped run mission hospitals in the past.
“As Christian doctors, we have the same purpose-we want to bring people together in greater strength to make a difference and get these hospitals better running,” said Dr Adeyinka.