Dr. Willie Parker, an Alabama-based abortionist, considers himself a devoutly religious man.

In fact, the Baptist pastor-turned-doctor believes abortion is his ministry.

Parker appeared in Austin, Texas Wednesday with Protestant, Jewish, Roman Catholic and Unitarian “faith leaders” at the Temple Beth Shalom “to help launch a new statewide campaign in support of access to reproductive health care for all citizens,” the Austin Chronicle reports.

“It’s not mutually exclusive to do the work that I do and hold the values that I hold,” Parker says in the article titled, “Abortions in the Name of God.”

“The Bible tells us to love our neighbors with all our strength. Neighbors also mean struggling women who are going through times that are very complicated for them.”

“Join us for an inspiring service for people of all faiths and goodwill to reflect on and affirm our shared commitment to reproductive justice,” the event page published on Facebook by a group called Just Texas reads.

Just Texas describes its mission this way:

If your faith tells you…

• Women, not politicians, should be the decision-makers about their reproductive health care, including abortion.
• Access to comprehensive and affordable reproductive health services is a moral and social good.
• Laws should not be based on a particular religious belief (even if it is my own).

…then you believe in a Just Texas.

Parker has dismissed his critics, saying they should be guided by humanity, not ideology.

“They are distracted by their narrow beliefs. I’ve never seen Jesus’ behavior or the behavior of major religions ever justify intentionally harming another person or creating circumstances that don’t allow people to take care of themselves. That is nothing but misguided.”

One such critic is Life Dynamics, an pro-life group based in Texas.

“A Christian cannot be pro-choice about the intentional destruction of an innocent human life any more than they can be pro-choice about rape or robbery or slavery or incest child abuse etc,” the group’s founder, Mark Crutcher, says on its website.

“Christian doctrine clearly asserts that God is the author of life and that He is incapable of making mistakes. From these foundational beliefs, the only logical conclusion one can draw, is that when life exists in the womb it is God’s will that it be there.”

Life Dymanics notes “‘Reproductive justice’ is code for abortion on demand.”

“We have to get over the love affair with fetuses and love women and children,” Parker told Princeton students in February, Campus Reform reports.

Parker also called the argument that Planned Parenthood and other groups disproportionately target black women for abortions “noise,” “misleading” and “racial insulting.”

“I usually reserve terms like brilliant for a positive thing but it is a dastardly Jedi mind trick,” he said.

“Because it exploits the notion that we, as a society are very uncomfortable with notions of race.And so, you take people who are well-meaning and want to help people who have the greatest need, in this case, disproportionate women of color. And, so the majority of the healthcare system is still white people, mostly white men, although that’s changing with the number of women. So, it really becomes racist not to provide this care,” he added. (emphasis added)

Parker’s Texas visit was co-sponsored by Texas Freedom Network, Religious Institute, Catholics for Choice, Texas Unitarian Universalist Justice Ministry and the National Council of Jewish Women.

The Chronicle reports the groups held an advocacy training session and did a series of lobbying visits to the capitol.