What caught my attention the other day was a clip that highlighted religious
pro-choicers in Louisville, Kentucky. Women from an array of different faiths have gathered in order to challenge the pro-life movement and to put forward the argument that they are pro-choice partly because of their faith. These women have organized and come together in order to, often with the support of religious authorities, claim that the Bible does not say that abortion is illegal.
Jo Ann Dale, a board member of the Kentucky Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice (KRCRC), who represented the group for the interview, stated that a pro-choice attitude is definitely compatible with religion and religious views. She further said that: “The angel did not say that you are going to be the mother of God, the angel said: are you willing to do this? She had the choice”. Thereby, pro-choice is encouraged in the Bible and is definitely accepted.
I like this interpretation because it does not pressure women who hold a religious belief to accept a pregnancy that they are not ready for or do not want. Instead, it shows women that they are allowed a choice. In my opinion, pro-choice legislation is beneficial for all. The women who are pro-life go on with their pregnancies and do not need to worry about abortion for themselves, since they do not support it. Women who are pro-choice are allowed to avail of abortion services if they want to and need to. Win-win situation. I also like that this organization is providing support to women with the backing of rabbis and priests that share these opinions. Therefore, religious authorities are able to ensure these women that they are allowed a choice.
I’m always pleasantly surprised to see people of faith standing up for abortion rights, but that’s probably just because the far right has done such a good PR job. Life might be pretty–but mind-numbingly boring if everything could be put into neat little black and white, right and wrong boxes. I am absolutely biased but somehow I feel like it always comes down to how a woman is valued within a religious tradition. In Judaism, the life of the mother always takes precedence. It’s pretty clear to me that a lot of anti-choicers think women are lying cheating baby containers.
So the Angel Gabriel asked the Virgin Mary if she wanted to abort the Baby Jesus. I think y’all have officially jumped the shark.
That is not what they are saying. They are saying that she was given the choice of a pregnancy or not.
Of course you like that interpretation, because it supports your views. However, pro-choice Christian is an oxymoron, and anyone who thinks the Bible supports a pro-choice view is relying on bad Biblical hermeneutics. You can’t trust someone’s interpretation who just interprets Scripture any way they want. Honest interpretations of Scripture aren’t popular among many people because it requires actually having a sense of morality (rather than just letting everyone do what they want).
If you actually read Luke 1 for yourself, you’ll see that when the angel Gabriel spoke to Mary, she wasn’t yet pregnant. She didn’t have the choice to abort, she had the choice whether or not to actually carry the child. If she had refused, Gabriel would have looked for someone else. God would not have trusted his son Jesus with someone who would have aborted him.
I support that view because pro-choice is beneficial for all. It let’s the people that are pro-life go on as they want and it also lets pro-choicers make the choice that is right for them.
I believe that women should be able to make their own choice concerning their reproduction. In my opinion, those who support pro-life just want to impose their values on others who are often complete strangers. Honestly, my reproduction is none of your business. My pro-choice attitude does not hurt the choices of pro-lifers, thereby I accept their views and they should accept mine.
Thanks a lot Elin! This is very interesting! Religious Pro-choicers are blessings. Religious coalitions are blessings. Here is another religious coalition for reproductive choice also with Muslim and Hindu perspectives (RCRC): http://www.rcrc.org/perspectives/index.cfm
Great!
Thanks Manis, I appreciate it:) I’m planning a Feminist Conversation to follow up on the topic. It should be coming soon!