After the sun set on May 16, 2023, the North Carolina General Assembly completed their override of the Governor’s veto of a bill that will now dramatically restrict reproductive rights in our state. Before all that happened, the Council and our allies co-authored a letter to every member of the General Assembly asking them to sustain the veto and work with us to craft legislation that would actually support Women, Children, and Families. Our letter was signed by over 1200 religious people in N.C., with more coming online every minute when we finally stopped counting and printed the letter for our lawmakers.
The letter was polite and reasonable. [The letter.] We spoke as a plethora of religious communities across the state asking for due process, the chance for public comment, and the advice of the medical community—who had already expressed their own dismay over this particular bill. We did not accuse the legislators of fostering the return of back-alley abortions, though this law will likely do that. We did not remind them of the toxic and horrible deaths, so called “coat hanger abortions,” that result when pregnant people are denied access to the means to terminate unwanted pregnancies. We did not quote scripture, eisegeted to support a partisan view, because the signers do not share a common scripture. We did not question the sincerity of their religious beliefs, nor did we employ intentionally inflammatory language in presenting our case.
In response, from some elected leaders, we received comments along the lines of, “I have a hard time believing that Jesus would support tearing unborn babies apart limb from limb and then sucking them out of the mothers [sic] body.” This shows a profound misunderstanding of gestation, pregnancy, birth, miscarriage, and, yes, abortion. It is also rude and intentionally antagonizing, something we strove to avoid.
Other comments pursued this line of thought: “you did not study the same version of the Holy Bible that I did this morning.” This speaks to the very issue of religious freedom. In truth, my interlocutor and I probably do read the same Bible each morning, if perhaps different translations, but we interpret scripture differently. I can’t find the word, “abortion,” in either the original Hebrew or Greek of my holy scriptures. I can find a lot of instructions about creating a safety net for the well-being of all God’s people, including the care for women and children from words composed during a historical era when neither of them had any legal standing.
And what about all the other religious people in our state whose holy scriptures are Torah and Talmud or Quran or Tipitaka or Bhagavad Gita? Must they subscribe to a circumscribed interpretation of Christian scriptures? Do they have the freedom to make reproductive decisions on the basis of their holy scriptures and religious traditions? Yes, they do, enshrined in the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
The right to have a baby and the right not to have a baby is a moral decision. It is not a legal decision. I, and those who signed the letter, will be the first to respect any person’s right to say no to an abortion. We would like the same level of respect for the right to say yes.
Photo: REUTERS/Jonathan Drake
Thank you for your letter Jennifer. The actions taken by out state legislators breaks my heart. We cannot be silent. Polls show majority of NC citizen’s do not want to restrict abortion access, yet, SB 20 moved swiftly through legislation along with a long train of other abuses – violence done with a pen. Attacks on poor people, voting rights, women, students, teachers, workers, public education, health care, the LGBTQ community, gun control, criminal justice reform, our environment, and immigrants just to name a few. The State Supreme Court allowing gerrymandered district maps last month will ensure those that currently abuse their power will stay in power. Rep. Tim Moore changing the voting rules allowing legislation to be voted on without any warning, should disturb everyone no matter what your political views are. What now? What can we do to preserve Democracy? How can we improve transparency and accountability to drive change?
Thank you for sending the letter with regard to SB 20. I am very concerned about the impact this law will have on women’s health, especially women of color.
I simply do not understand how SB 20 was passed so quickly, yet we cannot get this legislative body to pass any laws restricting the sale or use of assault weapons.
Yours was a thoughtful
letter summing up the conflicting views on abortion. And yet I find myself both angry and perplexed by the Republican passage of SB20 which will cause great harm to women and their loved ones. I spent time with nearly a dozen health care providers outside the Senate chambers on Tuesday listening to their deep frustrations. Rebecca Todd Peters presentation was in my mind as we kept vigil to the death dealing action of Republicans on Tuesday, How long O Lord?
May I repost this?
Yes, of course.
Dr. Copeland, what would be next steps? Apparently those who aspire to Christian Nationalism have been working toward this moment for a long time. I believe Planned Parenthood is getting legal advice ahead of a lawsuit which is likely to fail(?), but all concerned agencies and voters need action steps as well.
Register voters and encourage them to go to the polls. Help them understand that voting in “down ballot” races is important to our local policies, especially in N.C. Yes, it is a marathon…
Thank you for your continued efforts to bring light to the churches response to protect women and their unborn children.
Thank you for writing this and the letter. I’m sorry, but not surprised, that you received such antagonizing and ignorant (as in not knowing about certain facts/realities) responses. It’s hard to have reasonable discussions under such circumstances.
Thank you for this gracefilled message. It saddens me that reasonable Christians are omitted and inferred not real Christians. The conservative thinking Christians believe they own THE TRUTH. And yet we are family. The truth is the Elephant in the room.
Thank you for a reasoned, “woke” explanation and letter. I am woke and reasonable.
Priscilla Neale
Whittier (Qualla) NC
Hey, and grace and peace to you!
I’m most interested in the “continuation of thought” that you present in your comment
“I can’t find the word, “abortion,” in either the original Hebrew or Greek of my holy scriptures.”
I don’t see the term “abortion” in scriptures either, but I am wondering what Jeremiah 1: 5 prompts for you?
By the way, I also don’t see the term “pedophilia”, but it’s absence doesn’t validate the activity.
Look forward to your reply! GBY! Skip
Skip, Thanks for these questions, none of which can be quickly answered in a web post.
I’d have to do some research on pedophilia, but off the top of my head I would group it with God’s regular call to care for women and children.
For the abortion discussion through the lens of Christian faith, I recommend Rebecca Peters’ book, Trust Women.
It’s unbelievable that the male majority can still control a women’s body. It’s shameful. I pray the love and protection of God for any female affected by this unjust action.
So grateful for your advocacy for women and our families.
A beautiful piece. I wish its beauty was mirrored in the hearts of many of our legislators.
Thank you for reflecting God’s love and warmth and mercy rather than the attitude of the religious elite who even Christ worked diligently to teach in His day that God is not about rules and power and “if you don’t do it the way the church says to do it you are wrong.” Christ went to the woman at the well, prevented the stoning of the adultress, spoke to the thief on the cross like a human being. It was love and compassion. You see it. I see it. We need others to see it, too. Thank you.
These are beautifully written words, Jennifer and I thank you for your efforts.