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GA06046
PARO annual luncheon
Author says economic justice tied to reproductive justice
By Erin S. Cox-Holmes
BIRMINGHAM, June 17 —The struggle for economic justice is irrevocably linked to the struggle for reproductive justice, according to the Rev. Dr. Tom Davis, keynote speaker at the annual Presbyterians Affirming Reproductive Options (PARO) luncheon.
"The basic issue is justice for women," said Davis, the author of Sacred Work: Planned Parenthood and Its Clergy Alliances. "There are a lot of people on the religious left who are focused on forming networks, but who are jittery on issues of reproductive justice. It’s not about abortion at all. It’s about sexism and control over women's lives."
Dr. Davis is passionate about the ways in which Planned Parenthood and religious leaders have worked together to promote social justice, advance women’s rights and maintain the legal option of abortion.
He recounted the history of the effort to make reproductive options legal and safe in this country. "It goes back to Margaret Sanger," he said, "who in 1918 wouldn't shut up, even when it was illegal to speak of contraception. … Through Sanger's incessant efforts, Episcopal bishops voted in 1934 to say contraception was okay for married people.
"Clergy opened the doors to contraception. In the 1960s, institutions were afraid to give out contraception to unmarried women. Clergy told stories of women who were not married or could not afford contraception until the laws changed. Clergy opened the doors for women."
"A network of fourteen hundred ministers and rabbis helped to send women for safe abortions when they could not be obtained in this country. The first legal abortion clinic in this country was opened by clergy. And when they opened it, they took the price – which poor women couldn't afford – and lowered it."
Noting that many younger clergy do not remember when contraception and abortion were illegal, he told the audience, "Reproductive choices must be protected. Clergy opened doors then, and they can still open doors today."
"I would like to close by offering you stories of hope. I know you have implacable people saying everything you are doing is wrong. But a lot of people who are implacable are implacable because they haven’t had any experience. When confronted by real families with real crisis pregnancies, even implacable people discover their compassion is much stronger than their theology, thank God. We are all transformed by our experiences. Especially those who are clergy."
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