Faith leaders gathered Tuesday at Silver Spring United Methodist Church to explain their support for a proposed Maryland constitutional amendment that would protect the right to abortion and other forms of reproductive health care.
If voters approve the amendment in Tuesday’s general election, it will enshrine the right to an abortion in the Maryland constitution.
“We live not in a theocracy, but a democracy,” Rev. Holly Jackson, pastor at the United Church of Christ of Seneca Valley in Germantown, told those gathered in the sanctuary. “I don’t pray to end abortion. I pray for abundant life for all, and sometimes [for that to happen] there’s going to be abortion. … Women are dying in Georgia, they are dying in Texas, they are dying all over this country because they cannot get care.”
While abortion has been legal in Maryland since 1973, the 2022 overturning of Roe v. Wade by the U.S Supreme Court led abortion-rights advocates in the state to push for a constitutional amendment to protect access to reproductive health care.
The text of the question, as it appears on the ballot, states “the proposed amendment confirms an individual’s fundamental right to reproductive freedom, including but not limited to the ability to make and effectuate decisions to prevent, continue, or end the individual’s pregnancy, and provides the State may not, directly or indirectly, deny, burden, or abridge the right unless justified by a compelling State interest achieved by the least restrictive means.”
The event was hosted by Freedom in Reproduction Maryland, the political action committee that supported the referendum appearing on the ballot, and featured faith leaders from a variety of religious traditions. The panel was moderated by Wendy Frosh, the committee’s treasurer.
“The media generally portrays those of faith as strongly, staunchly opposed to reproductive rights. But I also understand from my conversations with religious leaders that individual denominations have their own perspectives,” Frosh said.
Abbi Sharofsky, rabbi-in-residence at the Jewish Community Relations Council in North Bethesda, said it is important to remember that some religious groups support the right to an abortion and that she believes restrictions on reproductive health care access are an infringement on Jewish religious freedom.
Legislators who oppose abortion access are “absolutely taking a theological position that is in conflict with ours as Jews,” Sharofsky said.
She noted that Christian terminology has been cited in legal decisions about abortion. “These are not words that should be used in a legal space. These are theological words,” Sharofsky said.
Support and opposition
The referendum has drawn the support of the Montgomery County Council, which unanimously passed in September a resolution supporting the referendum and encouraging county residents to vote “yes” on the ballot question. The council’s decision received praise and pushback from the public. Other local supporters of the referendum include County Executive Marc Elrich (D), the Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee and the Montgomery County Education Association.
Critics of the referendum have cited their opposition to abortion, as well as concern that the proposed constitutional amendment could contain a loophole that would allow for minors to access gender-affirming care without parental permission.
The Montgomery County Republican Central Committee cited this concern in its voters guide, encouraging voters to check “no.”
“The amendment applies to individuals of all ages including minors, eliminating parental consent requirements for abortions, transgender and other procedures,” the voters guide said.
However, the ballot amendment question text does not contain any references to minors, gender-affirming care or transgender individuals.
More support needed after birth
Rev. Sarah Odderstol, rector at Grace Episcopal Church in Silver Spring, said she wants those who oppose abortion to focus their efforts on how to support children after birth, particularly if they are born into disadvantaged circumstances.
“I’ve seen this conversation mutate over 50 years. … It’s gone from being a pro-life conversation to being a pro-fetus conversation,” Odderstol said. “They want to make sure this fetus is born, but once that child is born, there’s no advocacy for a social safety net to make sure that child is fed, housed, clothed, educated.”
Rev. Will Green, senior pastor of Silver Spring United Methodist Church, shared a similar sentiment.
“I have watched what happens in communities that are already economically disadvantaged, where this perpetuates cycles of economic disadvantage and causes the suffering of not just one person or two persons, but entire households, families,” Green said. “It’s not just about my life and my health, it’s the life and health of all people of all creation.”
