The North Carolina state Senate
voted on the Eve of July 4th on a measure that would add more restrictions on
abortions. The anti-abortion measures were tacked onto a Sharia law
ban even though there is no Sharia Law in the United States. Fear upon fear for
the Fourth of July.
“They’re doing it quietly on 4th of
July weekend because they’ve seen what’s going on in Texas and know that women
will turn out,” Melissa Reed, VP of Public Policy for Planned Parenthood Health
Systems said.
The bill requires abortion clinics
to meet standards for licensure of ambulatory surgical centers. The bill would
also require doctors to be present when women take the oral drug RU486 that can
terminate a pregnancy preventing the attachment of a fertilized ovum to the
uterine wall.
In Ohio Gov. John Kasich flanked by six men, signed stringent abortion
restrictions into law as part of the state's new budget Sunday night. There
were no women involved in the final part of the budget process.
The new abortion provisions will make it harder for family
planning groups like Planned Parenthood to receive federal funding. The bill
requires doctors to perform ultrasounds whether medically needed or not.
One provision prevents abortion
clinics from having written transfer agreements with public hospitals. Ohio requires surgical
abortion providers to have such transfer agreements so that the clinic can
easily transport a patient to the closest hospital if needed. By preventing
clinics from having those agreements, the bill would effectively force many to
close.
Ohio's new abortion
restrictions came just days after state Sen. Wendy Davis, D-Texas, successfully
filibustered proposed anti-abortion regulations in her state. But those
regulations were back on the table this week as Texas began a special
legislative session,
and Gov. Rick Perry,
R-Texas, has vowed that this time, "it will become law." He is
determined to win! Five other states,
Alabama, Indiana, Mississippi, Kansas and South Dakota, have quietly passed
GOP-sponsored abortion legislation that takes effect this week.
So what does
the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s Social Statement on Abortion
say? (It was adopted by more than a two-thirds majority vote at the second
biennial Churchwide Assembly in 1991.)
“Because of our conviction that both the life of
the woman and the life in her womb must be respected by law, this church
opposes:
- the total lack of regulation of abortion;
- legislation that would outlaw abortion in all
circumstances;
- laws that prevent access to information about all
options available to women faced with unintended pregnancies;
- laws that deny access to safe and affordable services
for morally justifiable abortions;
- mandatory or coerced abortion or sterilization;
- laws that prevent couples from practicing
contraception;
- laws that are primarily intended to harass those contemplating
or deciding for an abortion.”
This
relentless battle advancing like wild fire in legislatures across the states is
fueled by fear. One man said, “Abortion
is a stain on the fabric of our nation. Our country can be healed. … In God’s
timing, it will happen if we remain faithful.” This relentless “battle” seems
to have less and less to do with children, or even with birth. The entanglement
of faith and freedom and fear on this Fourth of July rings with emotion. But what is the fear? And where is the concern
for hungry children? And gun violence? And a nation that imprisons more of its
people than any other? The ELCA’s Social
Statement does not see abortion as the highest or only sin on which we should
focus: “Sin
is evident in the many ways human lives are not given equal respect or treated
with high value, but are subject to abuse, violence, and neglect by
individuals, groups, and entire societies.”
No woman seeks to have an abortion because it’s a great
experience. ELCA Social Statement: “Abortion ought to be an
option only of last resort. Therefore, as a church we seek to reduce the need
to turn to abortion as the answer to unintended pregnancies. Abortion ought to
be an option only of last resort. Therefore, as a church we seek to reduce the
need to turn to abortion as the answer to unintended pregnancies.”
The
ELCA Statement also says, “The concern for both the life of the woman and the
developing life in her womb expresses a common commitment to life. This
requires that we move beyond the usual "pro-life" versus
"pro-choice" language in discussing abortion.”
And,
“We are moved particularly by the anguish of women who face unwanted
pregnancies alone. The panic and isolation of such pregnancies, even in the
best of circumstances, can be traumatic. Poverty, lack of supportive
relationships, immaturity, oppressive social realities, sexism, and racism can
intensify her sense of powerlessness.”
This
ELCA Social Statement, adopted over 20 years ago is as valid today as then, and
valuable, needed, in the public conversation, particularly given the assault of
anti-abortion legislation sweeping across the nation from state to state. What
is the fear? Why is Governor Perry determined to “win”? Do the primarily white male legislators fear losing
control? Losing political contributions? Do men fear losing out to women who
really do need freedom for health care of their own bodies?
The radical nature of forced vaginal ultrasounds becomes
a weapon to “win a war.” But what war? And who is the enemy? I am a woman of
faith who cherishes birth and children and this nation. And I am afraid of the
fear that would violate and victimize women and children.
There have been a few legislative initiatives to require
equal restrictions upon men’s bodies and sexual freedoms, but most have been
received in jest. Seriously, conception needs both sperm and egg. What if across this nation, state by state, we
worked together for responsible, loving, caring conception? Instead, deeply rooted fear has manifest
itself in erroneous information that a woman’s body somehow “takes care of the
situation” in the case of rape. Legislation rules to punish the incest and rape
victim with little mention of legislation to punish those who rape or
perpetrate incest. Men who have sex
outside of monogamous marriage are also a danger. Where are the advertisements
with that warning alongside those that boost testosterone?
The
ELCA Social Statement on Abortion: “A woman should not be morally obligated to
carry the resulting pregnancy to term if the pregnancy occurs when both parties
do not participate willingly in sexual intercourse. This is especially true in
cases of rape and incest. This can also be the case in some situations in which
women are so dominated and oppressed that they have no choice regarding sexual
intercourse and little access to contraceptives. Some conceptions occur under
dehumanizing conditions that are contrary to God's purposes.”
What would it mean to
promote sex education for young men and women that is accurate and positive and
includes the faith foundations of all, not just some people on the religious
right?
The ELCA Social Statement on Abortion: “Marriage is the appropriate context
for sexual intercourse. This continues to be the position of this church. We
affirm that the goodness of sexual intercourse goes beyond its procreative
purpose
. Whenever sexual intercourse occurs apart from the
intent to conceive, the use of contraceptives is the responsibility of the man
and of the woman”.
And: “Our congregations and church schools ought to provide sex education in
the context of the Christian faith. Such education, beginning in the elementary
years, needs to emphasize values such as responsibility, mutuality, and
abstinence from sexual intercourse outside of marriage. Parents should also be
prepared to teach sexual responsibility to their children in the home. It is
especially important that young men and young women be taught to exercise their
sexuality responsibly.
And: “Because this church recognizes parenthood as a vocation that women and
men share, we should encourage and educate males, from an early age, to assume
more responsibility for raising children. Congregations should provide
parenting classes and support groups for fathers and for mothers.”
And, “Greater social responsibility for the care, welfare, and education of
children and families is needed through such measures as access to quality,
affordable health care, child care, and housing. Sufficient income support for family’s
needs to be provided by employers, or, in the case of the unemployed, through
government assistance. As a society we need to provide increased support for
education, nutrition, and services that protect children from abuse and
neglect.”
And, “Because parenthood is a vocation that women and men share, this church
supports public and private initiatives to provide adequate maternity and
paternity leaves, greater flexibility in the work place, and efforts to correct
the disparity between the incomes of men and women.”
The Supreme Court Rulings handed down last week were
diverse in content and outcome; however one could find a connecting theme of
freedom and fear in them as well. Striking down the heart of the Voting Rights
Bill of the Civil Rights Movement has huge implications. Voter Suppression is on the rise. Why fear
the freedom of all to vote?
Concerning Marriage Equality, there was the fear
that marriage of LGBT people would diminish marriages of heterosexual
people. Heterosexual people do not need
to be afraid of Gay and Lesbian people.
So what is the fear on this Fourth of July? Fear
that if all people, of every color, ethnicity and creed vote, Caucasians will
have less power? Fear that if women have access to health care and choice and
become full partners with men, men will somehow have less control, less power?
Freedom for some needs to mean freedom for all. Of
that we need not be afraid. Planned Parenthood, planned partnership. Freedom
from fear.
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