Strengthening women who seek self-determination for their own bodies and in their own country
Dear Companions,
One of the most important constituencies to resist Trump’s effort to smother insurgent communities is to strengthen women who are ready to struggle against prohibiting abortion and birth control. In addition to my sending this to the Shalom Report, I will be sending it to my Substack community. If you are not yet a member of our Substack, please register at RebArthurWaskow.substack.com.
Thanks and blessings of Shalom, Salaam, Peace
Arthur
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: "Ariel Gold, Fellowship of Reconciliation"
Date: Wednesday, May 28, 2025
To: Arthur Waskow
Subject: Reproductive Choice and Religion
Dear Arthur,
“I was 16, a junior in high school. My boyfriend was abusive," tells Latoya. I couldn’t bring a child into that. I had a bright future, so many goals and aspirations. I promised myself whenever I brought a child in this world, I would give him or her the best life possible. I made the best decision for that child and for myself. I graduated Valedictorian of my high school class. I earned a college degree. I strive to make better decisions every single day.
My abortion helped me find myself. It gave me the opportunity to continue searching for my purpose. I am now one with myself and I love the woman I have become. When my time comes again, I will be ready. I will give my child the best life possible.”
FOR's next Gathering Voices discussion, on June 3, at 4 PM ET, will be a deep and important conversation with Rev. Katey Zeh, the CEO of the Religious Community for Reproductive Choice, which draws on the "moral power of diverse religious communities" and rejects "the shame and stigma that religious conservatives have long attached to sex, sexuality and reproduction."
WHAT: Gathering Voices with Rev. Katey Zeh of Religious Community for Reproductive Choice
WHEN: Tuesday, June 3 at 4 PM ET
WHERE: Zoom
“Pregnancy itself is a risk factor for homicide,” describes Maeve Wallace, a reproductive epidemiologist at Tulane University’s Violence Prevention Institute. Victims of domestic violence are more likely to experience unwanted pregnancies, and when denied abortions, they are more likely to stay with their abusive partner. Carrying an unwanted pregnancy to term is associated with higher rates of domestic violence, poverty, poorer maternal bonding, and such dire health consequences as gestational hypertension, eclampsia, postpartum hemorrhage, and maternal and infant death. Conversely, women who receive a wanted abortion are more financially stable, set more ambitious goals, raise children under more stable conditions, and are more likely to have a wanted child later.
Under Jewish law (halacha) the termination of a pregnancy is required when the life of the mother is in danger, and over the centuries, various rabbinic authorities have extrapolated on what putting the life of the pregnant person before that of the fetus means. My Jewish traditions understand it to include the pregnant person's economic and mental health, and dignity. Given that we are commanded over and over again to care for the poor, the systematically oppressed, and the persecuted, and that this is a prophetic duty, to criminalize reproductive freedom is to criminalize care.
For many Christians too, abortion can be intertwined with religious practice.
"My abortion strengthened my faith and made clearer God’s plans for my life," said Ashley about her decision, as a Christian. She and Latoya are two of the participants in the Abortion Out Loud, 1 in 3 storytelling project.
"I am so grateful that I was able to decide what was best for my body," continued Ashley. "I continuously pray, work, and fight for the day in which every person needing reproductive health care will have unfettered access to make the best decisions for themselves."
The Fellowship of Reconciliation is not known for avoiding controversial issues. Over the years, the issue of abortion has been hotly and painfully debated among our members, affiliates, staff and board.
In 1999, the FOR National Council determined the organization's position as pro-choice, while calling for “mutually respectful dialogue and compassionate listening on this issue”. In pursuit of such loving dialogue, I welcome all of you, whatever your position on the issue, to join the upcoming conversation with Rev. Zeh.
Read FOR's statement on the issue of abortion here.
The Center for American Progress named Rev. Katey Zeh one of their top justice-seeking faith leaders to watch for her work on reproductive freedom. As the organization's CEO, she guides Religious Community for Reproductive Choice with prophetic vision, compassion, and heart. Rev. Katey has written for many outlets, including the Washington Post, Sojourners, Religion News Services, and Religion Dispatches, and she regularly appears in the media, including The Atlantic, CNN, The Nation, BBC, NBC News, Newsweek, and The Christian Century. She is the co-host of the Kindreds podcast and the author of two books, A Complicated Choice: Making Space for Grief and Healing in the Pro-Choice Movement and Women Rise Up: Sacred Stories of Resistance for Today’s Revolution.
Register now for the June 3 Gathering Voices with Rev. Zeh.
Towards bodily autonomy and reproductive freedom for all,
FOR Prayer
“Lost Woman Song” from Ani Difranco’s 1990 self-titled album
I opened a bank account when I was nine years old
I closed it when I was eighteen
I gave them every penny that I'd saved
and they gave my blood and my urine a number
And now I'm sitting in this waiting room playing with the toys
And I am here to exercise my freedom of choice
I passed their handheld signs
I went through their picket lines
They gathered when they saw me coming
They shouted when they saw me cross
I said, "why don't you go home?
Just leave me alone
I'm just another woman lost
You are like fish in the water who don't know that they are wet
But as far as I can tell the world isn't perfect yet"
And his bored eyes were obscene
On his denim thighs a magazine
I wish he'd never come here with me
In fact I wish he'd never come near me
I wish his shoulder wasn't touching mine
I am growing older waiting in this line
But some of life's best lessons are learned at the worst times
And under the fierce fluorescent she offered her hand for me to hold
She offered stability and calm and I was crushing her palm
Through the pinch-pull wincing
My smile unconvincing
On that sterile battlefield that sees only casualties
Never heroes
My heart hit absolute zero
And Lucille, your voice still sounds in me
Yeah mine was a relatively easy tragedy
The profile of our country looks a little less hard-nosed
But you know that picket line
persisted and that clinic's since been closed
They keep pounding their fists on reality hoping it will break
But you know I don't think there's one
of them that leads a life free of mistakes
Yes I'm not going to sacrifice my freedom of choice
No you can't make me sacrifice my freedom of choice
No you can't make us sacrifice our freedom of choice