Restrictive Abortion Bills In Texas Under Attack…by Texas Preachers!

I just found out that there are people in Texas who don’t feel driven by the Holy Spirit to control my vagina. And it’s especially encouraging to discover that my state has religious leaders who are appalled that our elected officials are attempting to pass restrictive abortion bills in Texas that will hold hostage the reproductive organs of Texas women.

restrictive abortion bills in texas

 

A key group of Texas religious leaders has written a strongly-worded open letter to members of the Texas State Senate opposing HB2 and SB1, the restrictive abortion bills in Texas that will effectively shut down all but five women’s health clinics in the second largest state in the country. Addressed to Sen. Kirk Watson, a Democrat who played a key role in supporting Sen. Wendy Davis during her now famous filibuster, the letter states the following.

Dear Senator Watson,

We write as concerned Texans from across faith traditions. As clergy from diverse religious communities, we are united in our overwhelming opposition to TX HB2/SB1. As Texans who honor the wellbeing [sic] of all and answer to the imperative for justice, we are deeply troubled by the dangers this bill poses to women’s safety, equal access to reproductive health care across the state, women’s dignity, and religious freedom.

The bill’s effect of forcing the closure of numerous Texas reproductive health clinics deprives women of vital services that prevent unwanted pregnancies and disease, offer life-saving cancer screenings, and provide responsible, accurate sexual health education. This bill will disproportionately and unjustly affect rural and economically challenged women and families.

These brave preachers went in for the kill and pulled up specific Biblical teachings to support their position against restrictive abortion bills in Texas. In bold text and bullet points, they wrote:

  • These closures would contradict our various traditions? teachings about reaching out to the weakest and poorest among us.
  • Prohibiting abortion in this fashion poses a direct threat to the lives of Texas women.?Such danger would be an abandonment of our faiths? compassionate commitments to health and safety.
  • This denial of liberty is an affront to religious teachings of human freedom and a violation of human rights.
  • Imposing one, particular faith-based prohibition on the whole of society is a violation of our religious liberty, our freedom of conscience, and the principles of pluralism that are the foundation of our great nation.

They put a lot of emphasis on the MOTHER’S life. What a concept, eh?

Restricting access to safe, legal abortion for those who need it will cause some women severe emotional and physical pain, particularly if the pregnancy is the result of rape or if non-exempt fetal abnormalities are found after 20 weeks. This restriction will lead to an increase in already-present black-market procedures, resulting?only?in greater harm to women and families.

They also used language frequently used by those ?of us who are Christians who support the choices of other women.

The discernment about terminating a pregnancy is immensely complicated. As people of faith, we strongly believe that this discernment should be the prerogative of women in consultation with their own conscience, traditions, families, and care providers.

Why is it that other Christians and people of other faith traditions can’t wrap their minds around this simple concept?

The letter ended with the writer calling the bill “troublesome, coercive legislation.”

We, the undersigned, represent the faithful commitment of millions of Texans to women’s health, social justice, reproductive choice, and religious liberty. We urge you: defeat this troublesome, coercive legislation.

The leaders who signed the letter represent a broad range of religious affiliations. We even have a couple of Baptist churches on the list. Who knew, right? For a full list of the religious leaders who signed this letter, visit the Houston Chronicle website. When writing that tithe check this Sunday, consider making it out to one of these congregations. Restrictive abortion bills in Texas may be a reality, but they’ve not attempted to put legislation on where we can tithe – yet. That’s one choice that we still have.

I had a successful career actively working with at-risk youth, people struggling with poverty and unemployment, and disadvantaged and oppressed populations. In 2011, I made the decision to pursue my dreams and become a full-time writer. Connect with me on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook.