On Friday, June 24, 2022, the US Supreme Court ruled, in a 6/3 decision, to repeal Roe v. Wade - the 1973 ruling that federally protected a women's right to full reproductive healthcare, including abortion, on the basis of the right to privacy. I have been fairly quiet on the subject and a few folks have asked me about my thoughts.
First let me address why I took time to respond to this decision. It is not a surprise that I am a Pro Choice, female, ordained clergy person. I have been for over 21 years (yes, my thoughts and perspectives changed a while ago on the subject). I have written countless federal and state legislators, sat in elected people's offices waiting to speak with those elected to represent me, spoken before state legislator committees and hearings, signed petitions, financially supported groups that work hard to ensure a woman's choice to full reproductive healthcare. I have done a lot of work, shared from what feels like my core. Friday's decision, no surprise after May's leaked draft opinion, still hurt like hell.
It hurt me for so many reasons. I know that several states had trigger laws in place and now in 8 states abortion, in all cases, is illegal. Many other states are pushing legislation to outlaw abortion. This now will force women who need this medical care to spend more time and money to attempt to access the healthcare they and their doctors have decided are right for them. It hurts that my rights and the rights of those who need this type of healthcare have been stripped from me, and that I am not trusted to make decisions about my own health. It hurts because a certain type of Christian faith is being used to cause harm to others and is being flaunted in the media as "the Christian perspective." To be clear these Christians don't speak for me and are not "the Christian perspective." However, I can no longer fully live out my faith in this area because conservatives have declared my religious freedom to not count. It hurts because I feel like my beliefs, thoughts, perspective, education don't matter. So, I needed time to just cry and mourn and to try to regroup and find the energy needed to speak.
I'll be honest, I'm still feeling the shock, worry and so many other big feelings about this reversal. But let me say that full healthcare, for all people, is a human right for all people. The government has no business in telling anyone what they can and can't do with their bodies. The government has no business in the conversation between a medical professional and their patients. This reversal of Roe v. Wade is a direct assault on so many people and is a power grab. It is based on misinformation and a refusal to understand the literal life and death situations that will be created. Medical schools will lose their accreditation because they won't be able to full train the medical students in the full range of healthcare procedures, therefore we will be worsening the healthcare provider shortages we have in the US.
As a faith leader, I am horrified with how my faith tradition has been weaponized to strip people of their humanity. I am angry that the sacred text of my faith has been cherry picked to strip people of dignity, love and being recognized as fully human. I am furious that my faith continues to be called "sinful" and "an abomination" because it is not the exact same as others. In a democracy, what the US is supposed to be, we all are supposed to have the ability to practice our faith, but that faith is not to be the government - we are not a theocracy. And it feels that a minority of people are creating a theocracy based on a (in my opinion) dangerous reading of select Bible verses and not looking at the whole Bible. It's an effort to maintain power by any means necessary, by a few, instead of creating the Kin-dom of God where all are loved and celebrated.
So what are my next steps: I will continue to monitor my mental health - as we all should because this is exhausting and frustrating and (insert a long list of feeling words here). But I'm also going to go back to supporting organizations like Planned Parenthood and NAPRAL to leverage efforts to protect a person's right to access all healthcare without government interference. I will continue to sign petitions, march, write letters and educate others about full and inclusive healthcare for all. I'll be visiting my elected officials, as many attempt to call special sessions to pass anti-abortion bills (Mike Flood, Gov. Pete Ricketts you're at the top of my list because I see you and your awful plans). I will continue to read and reflect upon the Bible and other foundational and informational texts of my Christian faith to study and try to understand my faith. I will provide the support any person needs as they attempt to navigate these trying/stressful/infuriating times. I hope you'll join me.
O God, may our rage, frustration, and all other emotions, not keep us stagnate for long. Help us to tend to ourselves, so that we can do the holy and hard work before us. Amen.
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