What Now? Pregnancy Criminalization and Christian Leadership

Last updated on: April 30, 2014 at 1:11 pm by Guest Contributor

What Now? Pregnancy Criminalization and Christian Leadership 2014-04-30T13:11:00-05:00 Guest Contributor

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by Alaenor London
R3 Contributor

Dear Fellow Christian Faith Leaders in Tennessee:

Yesterday, TN Governor Bill Haslam became the first governor ever to sign a bill into law that has the power to criminalize a woman for pregnancy. SB 1391—an amendment to TN Code 39, Chapter 13, entitled “Offenses Against Persons” makes the “the illegal use of a narcotic drug while pregnant,” an “assaultive offense…if [a woman’s] child is born addicted to or harmed by the narcotic drugs or for criminal homicide if her child dies as a result of her illegal use of a narcotic drug taken while pregnant.” While I know some of my colleagues will find this amendment acceptable or even breathe a sigh of relief that “these people” will finally be held accountable for what they do to “these babies,” I urge us now to stop and meditate on who “these people” are and what we who are called to do ministry with them are really called to do.

We do not need to look far to see the images of “these people”—these irresponsible women who cannot control themselves—tossed about in the media. It is not uncommon that we hear the story of the addicted mother cast in terms of selfishness and lack of regard for the rest of the community. Usually, “these people” are painted as poor women and women of color who can only procure drugs by relatively public means and end up in need of public assistance while struggling with addiction. We can argue about the validity of that image (and believe me, I have, and will continue to), however, there is another conversation that is more urgent for those of us who feel called to walk with people on their faith journey today—the day after the signing of a law that has no other purpose than to criminalize people who need help. That conversation for people of faith in general, but for faith leaders in particular is “WHAT DO WE DO NOW?”

The reality is that “these people” are God’s Beloved locked in an agonizing, life and death, daily struggle. These are God’s Beloved, created in the Imago Dei, battling a disease that threatens their own very life daily—the only disease carries the distinction (once shared with HIV/AIDS) of society’s knee jerk reaction to its victims being to punish instead of treat.

Yesterday, we told “these people” that if they become pregnant while locked in this battle, they deserve, not help, but more punishment with charges that can rob them of large chunks of their lives. Here, again, I will leave the complicated issues of rights and bodies out of this and simply ask that you consider what the effects of this law will look like on the ground and what you are called to do in its wake.

I ask you to think not only of the image of “these people” fed to us by our media outlets. I ask you to consider the young woman in your congregation who is not going to seek prenatal care because she is unsure if the doctor will be able to tell she tried drugs once and if he will report her to the police. I ask you to think of the woman in your congregation who is proudly rebuilding her sobriety after a long battle with addiction and, out of lack of resources and fear of the possible legal consequences, seeks a cheap abortion from an unlicensed provider and suffers or dies because of it.

Consider also the doors this law opens to the criminalization of pregnancy. How long will it be before a pregnant woman can be charged with assault on her fetus for being in a domestic violence situation where both parties are arrested? How long before she can be charged for just being somewhere where something dangerous could happen when something dangerous does happen.

All of these questions are before us in a very real way, but on the ground today, the crux of my concern is what we, ministers of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, are saying to young women who might have made some different choices than we would have liked, but who are in need of help and support. How do we represent God to God’s Beloved in perilous situations that could now take years from their lives in new, government-administered ways?

For those who are seeking a response to the difficulties of dealing authentically with young women whose life circumstances might place them in danger of being impact

ed by this new law, I ask that you consider one more woman—a woman at a well—and the man who showed up to minister to her. This story is one of many in which we see what Jesus’ ministry with women in crisis looks like. Jesus shows us here clearly what his response is to a woman who is suffering the harsh consequences of a life not considered socially acceptable. She has been ostracized by her community—cast down because of her behavior. When Jesus meets her, he truly engages her when others (including his own disciples) never would have. He acknowledges her situation—speaking the truth in love—and then immediately offers life instead of condemnation.

I wonder what it would look like if we all took Jesus’ approach to troubled young women. What would it look like if we chose to truly engage our women who battle addiction instead of talking at them from afar and allowing society to continuously see new ways to cast them aside and abusing them for being in need. What would it look like if we always offered life-giving strategies instead of condemnation, exclusion and punishment? I ask that you imagine with me loving ways to address the both the issues NOT fixed by the law as well as the new issues this law creates.

In God’s Love,

Rev. Alaenor F. London

Follow Alaenor on Twitter @revlanafaye

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