EPISCOPALIANS SHOW SUPPORT FOR REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM AT MARCH

By Matthew Davies and Maureen Shea

Episcopalians joined more than one million people—representing 100 religious and religiously affiliated organizations and congregations—in a march on Washington, D.C., on April 25 to support women’s reproductive rights both domestically and internationally. The event drew the largest crowd ever recorded for a women’s rights demonstration in the nation’s capital.

The “March for Women’s Lives” was co-sponsored by the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice (RCRC), an alliance comprising national organizations from major faith traditions, local affiliates, the national Clergy for Choice Network, Spiritual Youth for Reproductive Freedom, and the Black Church Initiative. According to its mission statement, RCRC supports the constitutional right to abortion and advocates for solutions to issues such as the spread of HIV/AIDS, inadequate health care and insurance coverage, and the severe reduction in reproductive health services. Both The Episcopal Church and the Episcopal Women’s Caucus are members of RCRC.

RCRC’s president, the Rev. Katherine Ragsdale—an Episcopal priest—welcomed participants with assurances of religious community support. “You can’t sustain a movement on outrage,” she said. “We are here to support the providers, politicians, women, and activists, and let them know that we respect them for their work and their commitment.” Ragsdale also noted that a punk rock concert held in Washington on April 24 aimed to engage young people in the movement.

Marching under The Episcopal Church banner were the Rev. Margaret Rose, director of the Episcopal Church Office of Women’s Ministries; Executive Council members Louie Crew and John Vanderstar; longtime women’s rights activist and General Convention deputy Marge Christie; and Maureen Shea, director of the Government Relations Office.

Prior to the march, RCRC hosted a “Prayerfully Pro-Choice Interfaith Worship Service.”

CALL FOR JUSTICE

In 1994, the 71st General Convention of The Episcopal Church reaffirmed that all human life is sacred from inception to death and acknowledged that abortion carries a tragic dimension. The resolution stated: “While we acknowledge that in this country it is the legal right of every woman to have a medically safe abortion, as Christians we believe strongly that if this right is exercised, it should be used only in extreme situations. We emphatically oppose abortion as a means of birth control, family planning, sex selection, or any reason of mere convenience.”

“The General Convention resolutions have expressed unequivocal opposition to any legislation that would abridge a woman’s right to make an informed decision about the termination of pregnancy, as well as recognizing the pain and possible support needed for those making difficult life decisions,” Rose said, adding that participation in the march demonstrates that supporting women’s rights is “essential to our call for justice.”

Mary Getz, director of the Episcopal Public Policy Network (EPPN), explained, “By publicizing this march and other events through our network, we are able to enlist and inform Episcopalians about important events. This is one of the ways we continue to build our grassroots advocacy network.”

The march drew criticism from the Institute on Religion and Democracy (IRD), which issued a press release calling it a “scandal” and suggesting that “a majority of church members…would be disgusted if they knew that their denominations have joined…in backing this kind of cause.” IRD president Diane Knippers, herself an Episcopalian, stated, “The church’s proper role in this issue is to offer godly counsel and ministry to persons involved in crisis pregnancies. But in this case, some…are adopting the strident arguments of the secular culture.”

Other Episcopalians participating included delegations from California, Florida, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nebraska, New Jersey, and Virginia.

—Matthew Davies is a staff writer for Episcopal News Service. Maureen Shea is director of The Episcopal Church’s Office of Government Relations.