Jul 01, 2022 |
Rector's Blog Throwback Series: We Don't Talk About Abortion
| The Rev. Philip DeVaul
Rector's Blog Throwback Series: We Don't Talk About Abortion
Editor's note: As part of our When Love Shows Up Throwback Series we are re-posting this blog post which was originally posted on May 20, 2022.
The prevailing narrative in our country is that Christianity and abortion rights are incompatible with each other. This narrative exists despite the fact that, outside of White evangelical protestants, the majority of Christians in America support a person’s right to terminate a pregnancy. This also despite the fact that the majority of people who terminate a pregnancy identify as Christian. But the narrative persists that Christians oppose abortion. And it persists so strongly that many Christians who believe in reproductive rights end up thinking that their beliefs are inherently at odds with their religion – even when they are not. And there’s a reason this false narrative continues.
We don’t talk about abortion.
We Christians who support reproductive rights are mostly silent. We may not be silent individually. Some of us may work at Planned Parenthood. Some of us may vote for candidates and resolutions in favor of reproductive rights. Some of us may attend rallies. But as Christian communities, we are mostly silent. Some of us may stand up and speak out for abortion rights, but we don’t do it in Jesus’ name.
And we should.
The prevailing narrative in our country is that Christianity and abortion rights are incompatible with each other. This narrative exists despite the fact that, outside of White evangelical protestants, the majority of Christians in America support a person’s right to terminate a pregnancy. This also despite the fact that the majority of people who terminate a pregnancy identify as Christian. But the narrative persists that Christians oppose abortion. And it persists so strongly that many Christians who believe in reproductive rights end up thinking that their beliefs are inherently at odds with their religion – even when they are not. And there’s a reason this false narrative continues.
We don’t talk about abortion.
We Christians who support reproductive rights are mostly silent. We may not be silent individually. Some of us may work at Planned Parenthood. Some of us may vote for candidates and resolutions in favor of reproductive rights. Some of us may attend rallies. But as Christian communities, we are mostly silent. Some of us may stand up and speak out for abortion rights, but we don’t do it in Jesus’ name.
And we should.
