Question: “Pastor Ronald, totoo ba na noong 1992, pinayagan ng SDA General Conference ang abortion sa high‑risk pregnancies?”

Answer:

Bro, yes, and real talk, this is one of the most troubling chapters in SDA history that many members today don’t even know happened. Let’s break it down calmly, fairly, but truthfully.

FACT CHECK: May official SDA abortion guideline noong 1992.

Totoo po: Noong October 12–17, 1992, the SDA General Conference Annual Council approved the document: “Guidelines on Abortion” (1992). Ito ay hindi “secret rumor.” It is an official GC document and can still be found in the SDA archives.

Ano ang laman ng 1992 SDA Abortion Guideline?

Ang guideline na ito opened the door to allow abortion in certain cases. Specifically, ito ang mga circumstances na explicitly allowed:

✔ When the pregnancy threatens the life of the mother

✔ When there are severe congenital defects (fetal abnormalities)

✔ When the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest

✔ When there is risk to the health of the mother (physical or mental)

Ang pinaka-controversial dito ay ito: They allowed abortion for “anomalous or defective fetuses.” Meaning: If the unborn child was diagnosed with deformities, disabilities, or abnormalities, abortion was permitted. This is the exact issue na tinutukoy mo.

Bakit monstrously problematic ito?

Because “fetal anomaly = allowed abortion” ay eugenics, not Christian ethics. Bro, sa biblical worldview:

• Ang taong may disability ay tao pa rin

• May dignity

• Image-bearer ng Diyos

• May right to life

Hindi mo pwedeng patayin ang bata dahil “may defect.”

Ang Diyos lang ang may hawak ng life and death hindi diagnosis ng doktor.

Kung sinunod natin ang principle nila…

• Blind babies = abort

• Down syndrome babies = abort

• Heart defect babies = abort

• Limb deformities = abort

• Anencephaly = abort

• Cleft palate = abort

This is NOT pro-life.

This is NOT biblical.

This is NOT moral.

Mas shocking pa: SDA hospitals were known for performing abortions

Lalo na noong 1970s–1990s. Maraming SDA medical institutions sa US were known as some of the biggest abortion providers among Christian hospitals. This was widely criticized by evangelicals and pro-life groups. It is part of the public record. Kaya noong 1992, yung GC guideline ay perceived by many as justifying a long-existing practice.

5. Important detail: Not all SDA members agreed.

Maraming conservative Adventists rejected the 1992 guideline.

They argued that:

• It contradicts the sanctity of life

• It contradicts the SDA health message

• It contradicts God as Creator

• It contradicts Ellen White’s writings on prenatal life

• It contradicts basic Christian ethics

The church was deeply divided.

6. Ano ang ginawa ng SDA GC after?

Noong 2019, they released a new, stronger statement titled: “Abortion: A Statement on Abortion (2019)” Mas pro-life ito. But even this statement still allows abortion for:

• rape

• incest

• threat to the life of the mother

• and “fatal fetal anomalies”

So kahit 2019 version, may loopholes pa rin.

Straight Answer to Your Question

YES, the SDA General Conference in 1992 officially permitted abortion for fetuses with detected abnormalities. This is not a rumor. It is documented SDA policy. And it remains one of the most morally controversial decisions in Adventist history.

Final Pastoral Word

Bro, minsan ang mga religious institutions nagkakamali dahil tao ang nagpapatakbo. Kaya Scripture is ang final authority, not church councils. Life begins at conception. And every unborn child, healthy or disabled, is an image-bearer of God. Kung defective ang fetus, gift pa rin ’yan ni Lord. May mga bata ngang “defective” according to science, pero used mightily by God. Sa Christian ethics: Pag inaagaw mo ang prerogative ng Diyos, napaka-delikado. 

Former Adventists Philippines

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