Letter to the Editor – October 20, 2022

Over 100 church members for Reproductive Liberty Amendment

To the Editor:

In early July 2022, more than 100 clergy and laypeople of the United Church of Christ in Vermont signed and publicly released a letter in response to the United States Supreme Court’s decision in the Dobbs case which overturned Roe v. Wade. This letter included: “We believe that all people have a right to determine what one does with one’s own body, recognizing the difficult and painful yet life-supporting and sustaining necessity in making the decision to have an abortion. This is a statement rooted in our Christian faith which opposes any policy, precedent, statement or law that limits a human being’s right to bodily autonomy determination, dignity and respect.”

Within Christianity there is a diversity of understandings about what our faith requires of us. Moved by our faith as laity and clergy in the United Church of Christ we affirm God’s gift of free will and proclaim our support for reproductive liberty. Not in spite of our Christian faith, but because of it, we encourage every Vermonter to vote in favor of Proposal 5/Article 22 “Reproductive Liberty Amendment” to the Vermont Constitution.

Sally Kerschner
Charlotte