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NEWS & LETTERS, February 2008 - March 2008Abortion is pro-lifeHow do you get Memphians out of their homes on a freezing evening? Talk about abortion and religion. About 75 people gathered at the Memphis Media Co-Op on Jan. 24 to commemorate the 35th anniversary of the Supreme Court decision in ROE V. WADE. The Memphis Center for Reproductive Health hosted a screening of the documentary SACRED CHOICES AND ABORTION: TEN NEW THINGS TO THINK ABOUT. Following the film, the audience participated in a panel discussion with local faith leaders and activists. The 57-minute documentary is based on Dr. Daniel Maguire's book SACRED CHOICES and reframes the debate over reproductive rights. Scholars from Christian, Muslim, and Jewish traditions, as well as women and girls whose lives have been forever changed by abortion, are featured in the film. "There are a lot of misconceptions about the history of various religions, and a 'big lie' out there that all world religions are opposed to a woman's right to choose abortion and that they have just one stance that has never changed," said Jennifer Marshall, community outreach coordinator for the Memphis Center for Reproductive Health. "This film shows that that's not always true." Interviewing religious leaders, clergy, theologians, and women dealing with unplanned pregnancies, the film presents the conclusion that choosing abortion is a sacred choice; a pro-life choice. Panelist Reverend Casey Thompson, associate pastor of congregational life at Idlewild Presbyterian Church and board member of Planned Parenthood Greater Memphis Region, stated, "I think the film illustrates what happens when we give priority to being right over our priority to love other people, and the dangers of being too absolutely certain in what we believe. God's thoughts are not our thoughts." "The more conservative faiths have no problem speaking out from their pulpits against [abortion], and yet I think the biggest challenge facing those who are pro-choice and clergy is to become more comfortable speaking out from the pulpit about abortion and pregnancy," said panelist Reverend Marise Tuttle from Prescott Memorial Baptist Church. Panelist Betsy Mandel-Carley, who testified during the original trials in Texas that led to the Supreme Court's decision in ROE V. WADE, said, "In the years since I testified, two things stay absolutely clear. I have not worked with a woman ever who took a problem pregnancy lightly, and...abortions have always existed and will always exist." --Memphis Center for Reproductive Health activists |
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