During a summer day in 1995, 47-year-old Norma McCorvey was
baptized as a Christian in a Dallas swimming pool. Since her
conversion, McCorvey has been actively advocating a repeal of the
1973 Supreme Court ruling in Roe v. Wade that legalized abortion
““ the case that she brought to the courts.
McCorvey filed the suit 32 years ago under the pseudonym
“Jane Roe” but has since had a 180-degree change of
course based on traditional Christian teachings.
“I am very sad (about the anniversary),” McCorvey
told CNN in a 1998 interview, referring to the ruling’s 25th
anniversary.
Today, McCorvey has become a strong voice for abortion
opponents, standing in the bitter cold outside the Supreme Court
last week and pleading for a reversal of a ruling made in her favor
exactly 32 years ago Saturday.
McCorvey’s transformation came from her acceptance of
certain religious beliefs, but some religious leaders and several
students argue that the incompatibility of religion and abortion
rights is not as black and white as is often traditionally
perceived.
Rabbi Bonnie Margulis of the Washington, D.C.-based Religious
Coalition for Reproductive Choice, an interfaith coalition,
believes it is easy to reconcile religious beliefs and supporting
abortion rights. The organization’s Web site outlines various
textual references to support their beliefs, addressing issues of
women’s rights and the often debated point at which life
begins.
Margulis said the current political climate is making it
increasingly difficult for her organization ““ whose members
include the clergy and laypeople from myriad religions ranging from
Christianity to Buddhism ““ to get their message out.
“Its getting harder and harder all the time. … I
can’t really say why that is. The issues are
complicated,” Margulis said, adding that she joined the
organization, whose creation coincided with the Roe decision in the
early 1970s, because she had always believed it was important for
women to have access to resources if they wanted to have
abortions.
“The theological arguments are complex. (The issue) is
fraught with shades of gray,” Margulis said.
But other religious leaders see the debate as being more
clear-cut.
The Catholic church’s stance is “not a secret; we
believe we are made in the image of God,” said Carol Hogan, a
spokeswoman for the California Catholic Conference.
“The church teaching isn’t up for debate. … There
is no question that it is human life,” Hogan said. But she
added that in the case that the mother’s life is in danger,
the church allows for exceptions to be made.
Several members of the UCLA campus who have had religious
upbringings say that after the experiences they have been through,
they do not subscribe to the strict teachings of the church.
“I know a lot of people who are Catholic who have gotten
abortions out of fear of being pregnant, of what their family may
think,” said Jay True, a staff member of the psychology
department.
True said before working at UCLA, she worked in social services
and was shocked when a 14-year-old girl came to obtain the
resources to get an abortion. She assumed that she would be seeing
such incidents on a daily basis, but said she soon saw there were
far more teenagers having babies than having abortions. True, who
had been raised as a Christian, speculates that religion may play a
role.
True’s friend, Anna Martino, a second-year graduate
student in library and information studies, adds that her Catholic
upbringing would add to the guilt she’d probably feel if she
did get an abortion.
Diverse opinions about the issue exists in most religions,
including Eastern religions.
Nirantara Dasa, a member of the International Society for
Krishna Consciousness (a Hare Krishna organization) said he
believes the Roe decision should be repealed.
His religious sect believes “there is no circumstance that
allows for abortion” and that life begins at conception.
But Vardhan Nadadur, the president of the Hindu Temple Society
of Southern California, said there is no specific or indoctrinated
prohibition on abortion in Hinduism.
“We don’t want to get involved one way or the other.
It’s best to leave it to (the woman) and her family,”
he said.