Presbyterian Church Shifts Investment Plan

The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) national assembly has softened its 2-year-old policy on disinvesting in companies that do business with Israel and has shifted more strongly against late-term abortions.

The new Mideast policy, approved Wednesday, says that regarding both Israel and Palestinian territory, church assets should "be invested in only peaceful pursuits."

The 2004 assembly had vexed grass roots Presbyterians and Jewish groups by authorizing "phased selective divestment in multinational corporations operating in Israel" because of its policies toward Palestinians.

Delegates approved 381 to 117 the shift in abortion policy, declaring that "viable unborn babies - those well-developed enough to survive outside the womb if delivered - ought to be preserved and cared for and not aborted."

AP

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