The Rev. Traci Blackmon, an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ (UCC), grew up believing abortion was murder.
That was challenged, however, when she became pregnant at 16, and even her mother — who was staunchly opposed to abortion — supported her choice to terminate the pregnancy. This experience led Blackmon to become pro-choice, and with the overturning of Roe v. Wade, Blackmon has decided to tell her story for the first time in hopes that other Christians will listen.
Mic’s Aysha Khan writes that Blackmon is working to disentangle the idea that being Christian is inherently anti-abortion. Blackmon’s own denomination, UCC, has advocated for abortion rights since before the historic Roe v. Wade Supreme Court Ruling in 1973.
Khan continues:
UCC ministers were part of a clergy network connecting women to doctors willing to provide abortions based on their own understandings of Christianity. “I think the laziness of some Christianity has caused people with louder voices and more political presence to be able to draw a narrative that other Christian voices have to speak out against so that people can think about this,” she says.
Blackmon elaborated on how her beliefs on abortion have evolved. She shows how God’s word is consistent with allowing a woman the right to choose in terms of abortion.
The right to choose is part of our God-given inalienable rights. As a Christian, the creation story says it’s the right of every human being to have choice — that God gave us choice. God doesn’t even mandate worship. God doesn’t even mandate obedience to God. Human beings should have the right to make these decisions for themselves, and women should not have to jeopardize their lives because they make such a decision.
About Post Author
