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Health Care and Civil Rights
As Episcopalians, our church has regarded itself as a Via Media, a Middle Way. We embrace both our Catholic roots in liturgy and orders and our Protestant heritage of Biblically based preaching and governance. Here at Christ Church we worship weekly with the oldest English prayers found in Rite One and the newest revisions of Enriching Our Worship.
In 1967, six years before the Supreme Court ruling on Roe v. Wade, our General Convention adopted a resolution that: ““all human life is sacred. Hence, it is sacred from its inception until death. The Church takes seriously its obligation to help form the consciences of its members concerning this sacredness. Human life, therefore, should be initiated only advisedly and in full accord with this understanding of the power to conceive and give birth which is bestowed by God.” In that same resolution, the Episcopal Church maintained its “unequivocal opposition to any legislation on the part of the national or state governments which would abridge or deny the right of individuals to reach informed decisions [about the termination of pregnancy] and to act upon them.”
In 2018, General Convention Resolution D032 committed us to “call for women’s reproductive health and reproductive health procedures to be treated as all other medical procedures, and not singled out or omitted by or because of gender.”
The recently leaked draft of a majority opinion prepared by Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito has set the stage for overturning Roe v. Wade and removing substantial protection for women seeking medical care during pregnancy. Personally, I find the document particularly repugnant because it makes no provision for exceptions in cases of rape, incest, or to protect the life of the women.
Alito’s argument maintains that rights not explicitly enumerated in the Constitution are protected only if they are ‘deeply rooted” in American history. This dangerous line of argument could be used by extremists to recriminalize same-sex sexual relationships, end marriage equality, and prohibit access to contraception.
I respect the right of members of this parish to disagree and the right to question. Our freedom in Christ calls us: not to lock-step obedience, but to love one another and respect the dignity of every human being. I encourage open and respectful dialogue within the parish. As you are able, please witness to our church’s stance on the way of love. I commend President Gay Jenning’s recent communication on “The Dignity of Safe and Legal Reproductive Health Care as an essential resource. https://myemail.constantcontact.com/From-President-Jennings--The-Dignity-of-Safe-and-Legal-Reproductive-Health-Care.html?soid=1111106056536&aid=gGrQowPA1QU
Please feel free to reach out to me. As a Deputy to General Convention this year, I expect that there will be considerable discussion of reproductive rights and resolutions will be offered. I value your thoughts and, most assuredly, your prayers.
It remains gut wrenching to me to imagine that rights asserted and established by our constitutional system of governance might be withdrawn by the very Court which first asserted them five decades ago. I shall continue to advocate for the advance of liberty in the cause of love.
Peace,
Mark +
O God, by whom the meek are guided in judgment, and light riseth up in darkness for the godly: Grant us, in all our doubts and uncertainties, the grace to ask what thou wouldest have us to do, that the Spirit of wisdom may save us from all false choices, and that in thy light we may see light, and in thy straight path may not stumble; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP page 832)
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