Today the Supreme Court issued a ruling reversing the 1973 decision that established the constitutional right to abortion. While we do not yet know what this will mean state to state, it is clear that this will have immediate implications for the lives of women. I want to acknowledge the strong feelings this will arouse for many in our community, and to ask us to remember that here, as elsewhere, there exists a wide spectrum of strongly held convictions about how to evaluate this change. Please exercise empathy and care for those who are impacted by this decision and be mindful of the personal and sensitive nature of this subject.
Since the late 1960’s, the Episcopal Church has affirmed that all life is a sacred gift from God, that there are situations in which abortion is a tragic but faithful choice, and that, because of this, the church supports legal access to medically safe abortions (see Summary of General Convention Resolutions on Abortion and Women’s Reproductive Health). In so doing, the church has avoided the stark pro-choice, pro-life binary and has balanced affirmation of life with the reality of responding to complex human situations.
Speaking specifically to the legislative issue, the 71st General Convention of the Episcopal Church (1994), expressed “its unequivocal opposition to any legislative, executive or judicial action on the part of local, state or national governments that abridges the right of a woman to reach an informed decision about the termination of pregnancy or that would limit the access of a woman to safe means of acting on her decision.” This position has continually been affirmed in later General Convention resolutions.
As you explore your own response to today’s news, I encourage you to join in or initiate conversations in your local community and in your congregations. As one example, Good Shepherd Episcopal Church in Austin is offering two discussions in September, one led by Scott Bader-Saye, to address this court decision from the perspective of Christian faith and ethics. Religious traditions bring moral and spiritual perspectives to this issue that are wider than the legal and constitutional questions. They can also serve to guide and motivate political engagement, which may be an important response for some in the seminary community.
As you go through this day and over the next few days, please check in with one another. Give attention to your own wellbeing and that of all members of our greater community. I encourage you to talk with your spiritual advisors, mentors, family, and friends for prayer, processing, and mutual support.
We will continue to listen and remain in conversation. Please continue to pray for each other, for this community, for the church, and for our political leaders.
Faithfully,
The Very Rev. Cynthia Briggs Kittredge
