Response:
I think there is a misconception that
“religious people” do not support abortion rights. In fact, at least 35
denominations and faith groups have pro-choice positions. The majority
of Catholics do not agree with the official teaching of the Catholic
hierarchy on abortion, and most of the traditions that officially oppose
abortion find similar dissent within their ranks.
I believe the debate has gone on long enough that people are fairly clear
about their beliefs about abortion. I think there is a consensus that
the choice to have an abortion should be legal. At the same time, there
is widespread concern that more be done to reduce the need for abortion
and to provide good options for women who might want to have a child --
to create the best possible situations for genuine choice.
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Like many other faith traditions, the
Buddhist perspective varies among branches. The Zen tradition encourages
each person to make his or her decisions based on meditative awareness
in interpreting precepts. Each person must make the choice and bear the
consequences for every action. On the other hand, the Dalai Lama, the
leader of one branch of Tibetan Buddhism, has taken the position that
abortion is killing and is not a moral choice. Where there is such
disagreement among people of good will, I think a pluralistic society
must respect the right of individuals to make their own choices based on
their own spiritual tradition.
- Rev. Dr. Deborah Barrett |