'This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine': Clergy members sing, pray, speak out in support of yet another abortion clinic

"This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine," a group of clergy and faith leaders sang at an abortion clinic in McAllen, Texas, earlier this week.

But they weren't there to protest ending unborn lives; rather, they gathered at Whole Women's Health on Wednesday to show support for abortion and women's reproductive rights, KGBT-TV reported.

"We do this to support the community, to tell the world that people of faith don't all think the same thing about abortion," Sonia Miller with the Texas Freedom Network told the station, adding that "that there are many, many people of faith and leaders in faith communities that are 100 percent behind women having their choice."

The group also prayed, KGBT reported.

The Rev. Cari Jackson — a United Church of Christ minister and Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice member who has attended similar events around the country, LifeNews reported — called preventing women from having abortions "ungodly."

Not a new phenomenon

Clergy members blessed an abortion clinic in Austin, Texas, in July — offering "words of solidarity, compassion, and love for those who work in the clinic and those who receive its care."

Last year, "faith leaders" were scheduled to gather for a "clinic blessing" at the East Columbus Surgical Center in Ohio. "Anti-abortion advocates do not have the monopoly on faith or God," the notice from Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio read. "Many faith leaders and people of faith hold that accessing and providing abortions are good and godly decisions."

In January 2017, more than 20 faith leaders blessed a Planned Parenthood facility in Washington, D.C.

"This confirms the sacredness of the work we do," Laura Meyers, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan Washington, said regarding the ceremony.

Well-known pro-choice proponent Dr. Willie Parker added, "I've been a Christian longer than I've been an abortion provider. Women have been made to think that this [clinic] is some evil place, where God is not," according to DCist, which noted his observation that people often respond to abortion by "cursing [women] for making sacred decisions. Our answer to the curse is to bless."

Twenty "Progressive Faith Leaders" - fulfill 2nd Timothy 3:1-7

Bless Planned Parenthood's New D.C. Clinic https://t.co/lbjETqg1sg pic.twitter.com/VN9FG7MGxh

— Tom T. ن‎ ™ 🇺🇸 (@VRWCTexan) January 13, 2017

 And in 2015, 15 Christian ministers and rabbis gathered outside the Preterm clinic in Cleveland to bless the abortion facility, which may have been the first event of its kind in Ohio.

"Bless this building. May its walls stand strong against the onslaught of shame thrown at it," said the Very Rev. Tracey Lind of Trinity Episcopal Cathedral. "May it be a beacon of hope for those who need its services."