Until last November Thrivent chose to support pro-life groups.
They last December 2013 then chose to support Planned Parenthood and NARAL. (ouline of those events here)
Members complained about the support of a pro-abortion group.
Thrivent claimed they only listed the groups suggested by local chapters, but had not actually sent money to Planned Parenthood.
But according to their actual records they had.
Now they claim they are taking a "Neutral" position by refusing to fund pro-abortion groups and pro-life groups.
This is not neutral.
Previously they chose not to support abortion, then they chose to. And only in the controversy did they withdraw support for abortion providers.
Previously they chose to support the plight of the unborn. Now they refuse.
Thrivent's new "Neutrality Policy" states:
Under this policy, certain organizations are not eligible to receive outreach support or funding. This includes, but is not limited to, organizations with a primary purpose of providing services for or advocating positions either supporting or opposing certain social, politically partisan, or health and human services causes and issues, such as abortion, sexual orientation, or guns. Decisions regarding the application of this policy and the eligibility of specific organizations to receive outreach funding or support are made at the sole discretion of Thrivent's management team and are subject to change.These are all funds for something Thrivent calls "Thrivent Choice" funds.
They have made their choice. They have made a choice against defending the unborn. They still want money from Lutherans and still call themselves "Thrivent Financial for Lutherans." But now that it comes to it, Thrivent has made a clear choice that what Luther's Small Catechism teaches about the Fifth and Sixth Commandments has no place in their organization.
