A Prayerful Response to Roe v. Wade
This week, many people have been impacted by the news of possible changes to the legal decision of Roe v. Wade, which has protected women’s reproductive rights since 1973. These issues of unborn life, childbirth, abortion, and legal access to abortion are especially heavy in light of Mother’s Day, this coming Sunday.
Our faith is a resource for how to approach these difficult matters of sanctity of life, freedom of conscience, and gender equality – reminding us to place love of God and love of our neighbors at the forefront of how we live and pray. Other resources include past resolutions of General Convention, the governing body of the Episcopal Church (see below). These statements both affirm the sacredness of life and the need for special care to see that individual conscience is honored and protected:
Please know that the clergy and pastoral care staff are available for further prayer and emotional support. We also offer this prayer:
Loving God, ground us with a sense of wonder for the sacredness of all human life. Help us to be attentive to the needs of pregnant people, so that we may support their health in body, mind, and spirit. Give us wisdom to pursue just legislation that opens doors for compassionate care, while honoring the complexity of human decisions. May the power of your resurrection be a source of strength, healing, and renewal; in the name of God who made us, loves us, and walks on this journey with us. Amen.