Here is a link to the full article, published by Politico.com on June 21 and entitled, “The sleeper legal strategy that could topple abortion bans.”
I invite you to read the article for yourself. It talks about religious groups, including Unitarian
Universalists, suing to overturn anti-abortion laws on religious freedom grounds. Reproductive
rights and bodily autonomy for women are religious values for Unitarian Universalists, Jews,
and others. The lawmakers who pass anti-abortion laws cite their Christian views in doing so.
The law then unfairly elevates pro-life religious values and discriminates against pro-choice
religious values.
It turns out that the photo used by the authors of the article is from a year ago—appropriately,
because the article talks about the one-year anniversary of the supreme court decision
overturning Roe v. Wade. On that day, I was protesting on the streets of Portland, Oregon
(where General Assembly was held last year) and I was interviewed for the evening news. I tried
to get the reporter to talk to my female colleagues instead, but they said that they wanted the
perspective of a man since they had interviewed several women already.
So my picture is out there in the public domain as a minister holding a sign: “My Faith Supports
Reproductive Freedom.” In the caption I am identified as a UU minister. If this makes me a
spokesperson for the movement, so be it. In honor of my mother, who worked as a counselor
at an abortion clinic in the 1970’s; in honor of the mother of my children; in honor of my four
sisters; in honor of every woman in America I am happy to speak up, to protest, to act for this
human right in harmony with Unitarian Universalist religious values.
PRAYER:
May love and blessing and strength come to all those who are struggling to decide about
abortion; and to all those seeking abortion care. Especially to those seeking an abortion in a
place where laws against abortion have been passed.
May wisdom and compassion come to lawmakers and to judges. May the sacred value of choice
and the power to decide what happens with our bodies be lifted up as a universal human right.
Bless the mothers. Bless the activists. Bless the children. May love bless the whole world and
bring harmony to us all.
Amen.
Rev. Andrew Frantz
July 5, 2023