We Give Thanks, Oh Lord': Liberal Activists Deliver Extended Prayer Thanking God for Abortion Rights

There's nothing uncommon about giving thanks for the gifts people believe God has bestowed upon them. Health, wealth, family, career -- there are plenty of elements for which the faithful regularly give thanks. Some Democrats in Iowa, though, added something new into the mix: Abortion rights.

A video going around conservative blogs today shows gubernatorial candidates joining pro-choice advocates in a curious invocation at the state capitol on Wednesday. The Iowa Republican has more about the controversial event:

Iowa Democrat gubernatorial candidates Jack Hatch and Tyler Olson joined 50 pro-abortion activists in an extended prayer for abortion rights during a rally at the State Capitol on Wednesday. The noon event was meant to fire-up liberals prior to an afternoon hearing across the street conducted by the Iowa Board of Medicine regarding tele-med abortions.

They made the unusual decision, for Democrats, to begin the event with a prayer. This was likely in response to a prayer vigil being conducted by pro-life activists at the same time nearby.

Des Moines activist Midge Slater took the podium and spent five and a half minutes thanking God for abortion rights, abortion doctors and taxpayer funding for abortions. She also referred to the decision to have an abortion as “a blessing”.

Slater, an activist who has ties to both labor and women's right groups, delivered a number of notable highlights. Praising "the blessing of choice," she went on to thank God for abortion doctors and to appeal that the Lord ensure elected officials continue to afford women the right to terminate.

"We give thanks, oh Lord, for the doctors, both current and future, who provide quality abortion care...," Slater said. "We pray for our elected officials, that they will always support a woman's right to make her own medical decisions."

Seemingly taking a swipe at conservative theological perspectives, the activist prayed that women who have been persuaded against exercising certain rights because of their faith will, instead, have courage.

"We pray for women who have been made afraid of their own power by their materialistic religion. May they learn to reject fear and live bravely," she added.

Watch the controversial prayer, below:

(H/T: LifeNews.com)

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