On Roe v. Wade

A Message from Simon+

Dear ones,

If you are like me, you have been thinking a great deal recently about the implications of the possible overturning of Roe v. Wade by the Supreme Court. The controversy following the leaked draft ruling has forced many of us to take a hard look at our own beliefs, and I have to confess that I find myself caught on the horns of a painful dilemma.

Speaking just for myself, not as a member of the clergy, I identify, if I am honest, as both anti-abortion and also pro-choice. Personally, I hate the idea of abortion, the idea of it makes me sad and angry, and I have to own that. But here’s the dilemma. As a man (a human unable to bear children), and a middle-aged one at that, I don’t feel that my opinion(s) about this issue carry much weight at all. That’s because I am not the one faced with such heartbreaking choices, and I can’t possibly know the details of everyone’s life, as to make an informed decision. But, do I have to have a position for other people at all? I don’t feel that it is right for me to impose my views on others, particularly when someone else’s choices have nothing to do with me – the choices of a woman over her own body. And let’s face it, there are lots of things people choose to do that we might not like or approve of, but that’s the very nature of freedom itself. There is also a world of difference between offering help and support and telling someone else what to do.

While the theology around this issue is also complicated, it’s no coincidence that Jesus talks a great deal about freedom in the Gospels. I think that is because freedom has something to do with the fact that love can only be freely given and freely received, and that giving and receiving love is the only way we can become our true selves, made in the image of God. We need freedom to be human, but freedom is messy, challenging, frustrating and powerful.

So, I am left wondering what might happen if, instead of trying to take a woman’s freedoms away, we decided as a society to invest more in actually supporting women, children and families – in other words give people more choices. If people had more choice, not less, what would our society look like then?

This is a painful and difficult issue, there is no way to sugar-coat this. I am always available to speak privately with anyone of you who has questions, thoughts or is simply struggling with this as I am.

With my prayers,
Simon+