The right-wing Christian movement shouldn't control the abortion narrative

[WhiskeyGrinder]

https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/religious-progressives-have-break-right-wing-christianity-s-stranglehold-abortion-n1255306

By Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg, MSNBC Opinion Columnist

(snip)

Abortion is not treated like other kinds of medical procedures — not on the legal level, nor on the cultural interpersonal level. Abortion is unique in that it is often treated as a religious issue, rather than a medical one. As problematic as this has been in many cases, there is an opportunity for more religious leaders to encourage people to think differently about the issue, to educate people and talk more openly about it.

The religious right has dominated the national conversation about religion and abortion for decades, ever since evangelical Christians lost the right to run racially segregated schools and decided that abortion could be a galvanizing issue. Members of the religious right have used their considerable power again and again, mobilizing around politicians, legislation and judicial nominees (including Amy Coney Barrett).

But conservative evangelicals did not always believe that abortion was wrong; for several years after Roe v. Wade, it was regarded as a purely personal matter. And they are not the only religious community with opinions about the topic.

The religious right may have the loudest voice when it comes to abortion, but there are numerous other religious approaches to the matter. Many Christian communities make space for abortion in their official denominational statements. Jewish law not only permits the termination of pregnancy; it requires it when the life of the pregnant person is at stake. Other religious communities have their own complex and nuanced approaches to the procedure.

[sandensea]

1. Argentina recently legalized abortion on demand. How did they overcame (relentless) RW caterwauling?

By pointing out the 1,000 illegal abortions performed daily - despite the prior restrictions (limited to rape and severe health risk).

That sole fact changed many minds of that subject - and this, in a majority-Catholic country where 42% of adults have less than a high school degree.

One mistake I often see even pro-choice advocates make (here in the U.S.), is taking official abortion figures at face value.

This has become a favorite dialectic trap for Repugs, as it allows them to respond that "abortion rates have fallen 50% since 1990" - when their efforts to overturn Roe v. Wade at the state level really took off.

And so, the reasoning goes, their efforts have been "successful" - and should thus be doubled down on.

They lie!

Official abortion numbers are down mostly because more and more are being performed in back rooms.

How do we know? The soaring maternal mortality rate, for one - which has more than doubled since 1990 (when it's fallen in nearly all other developed countries, and most developing ones).

Once pro-choice advocates begin pointing this out - and every time they can - they can start re-framing the debate in those terms: that abortions take place whether they're legal or not, just unsafely if illegal.

Some already frame it in those terms; we need that to become a standard talking point (not least because it's true).

[NotANeocon]

6. Teere is one statistic that is constantly ignored in the AWER debate.

If the Roe v Wade ruling made ANY difference in abortion rates then the birth rate should have decreased due to the extra pregnancies not being carried to term. In fact the birth rate stayed the same - meaning legal abortions simply replaced the illegal abortions {and far fewer women died from a required medical procedure performed by trained operatives}.

AWER = Anti Womens Equal Rights

[sandensea]

9. Well said.

Of course though, our Repug friends never let facts get in the way of a good canard.

Or in this case, their abject callousness when it comes to either infant or maternal health.

If you ain't coming out of some billionaire's cooch, the reasoning goes - tough luck, kid.

(pardon my French)

[TlalocW]

2. I read somewhere that the Satanists

The same ones that sue to get their state of Baphomet placed on state capitol lawns when a 10 Commandments monument goes up, that they were planning to make abortion... sanctified(?) in their religion in order to use the various religious freedom restoration acts to fight for abortion rights.

TlalocW

[WhiskeyGrinder]

3. The Satanic Temple, an activist group unconnected with the Church of Satan, has deemed abortion

one of its sacraments.

https://thesatanictemple.com/pages/rrr-campaigns

[I_UndergroundPanther]

4. the rightwing christians need to get out of government

remember the separation from church and state?

The government is not your christofascist church you vile theocratic traitors.

Or we could tax the living shit out of the churches.

They cant have it both ways christian control freaks.

Go back to your churches and stay there.

[NotANeocon]

7. When every used tampon and sanitary napkin is sent to church -

- for funeral services THEN and ONLY THEN will I say the AWER believe what they are claiming.

[alphafemale]

5. Like having Jehovah Witnesses in charge of blood transfusions

Should not happen

[Solly Mack]

8. I don't think any religion, either supportive or not, should be taken into consideration

when it comes to keeping abortion legal and safe. Same applies to all forms of birth control and Plan B.

And, no. Right-wingers shouldn't control the abortion narrative but then there need not be a religious narrative at all.

But because right-wingers think pushing their religion into everything is somehow going to get them the good table in heaven, yes, religions that support abortion should say so.

But even then, keep religion out of the laws concerning abortion and birth control.

Keep religion out of our laws, period.

Want religious laws governing your actions?

Move to a theocratic country.

No one will miss you.


That's the general "you" and not directed at anyone.