Acknowledging differing beliefs on abortion

To the editor,

Regarding the opinion piece in last week’s issue of The Record, we believe that it would go directly against the First Amendment to prohibit a pro-choice club from the ability to speak freely and exercise our rights strictly outlined in the United States Constitution.

The addition of a pro-choice club that advocates for reproductive freedom would not be problematic in any form; it would reaffirm the idea that reproductive freedom is a right of all people and deserves to be recognized.

The CSB+SJU website openly states the process of getting a club approved. Within the approval process, there are many questions that must be answered. The question that seems to be getting the most attention is, “Are the club’s activities, mission and goals consistent with the Benedictine Values?” Truly, a pro-choice club would follow many, if not all, of the Benedictine Values that are followed here on campus.

First, under the value of Respect for Persons, this club aims to respect all individuals, regardless of differing opinions or backgrounds. Along with that, the Benedictine Value of Listening will be incorporated by the creation of a pro-choice club, as all voices will be acknowledged and heard. The only way to truly follow the Listening Benedictine Value is to allow for this club to exist alongside the already existing Students for Life club.

This club would prioritize the Benedictine Value of Hospitality as being pro-choice, you welcome and accept others with open arms, without judgment or barriers. There seems to be a disconnect in terms of the purpose and goals of this club as many seem to lack an understanding of what this club stands and strives for. This club aims to advocate for reproductive freedom for all people while creating a safe and welcoming space—there is no shame or hostility present in this environment.

To allow a pro-life club while simultaneously denying the existence of a pro-choice club diminishes the experiences of many students and faculty here on campus and creates a negative narrative about the climate here at CSB+SJU. We believe it is important to understand that it is not a universal experience to be Catholic and to identify as pro-life.

We as a society must acknowledge that being Catholic and pro-choice are not mutually exclusive concepts. Margaret Sanger, the founder of Planned Parenthood, created the organization with an abundance of resources. Most would argue that her motives were dated and discriminatory, and we agree that she did not have the proper intentions when forming the association. We do not support her reasoning for the creation of the organization.

Despite her intentions with the development of Planned Parenthood, the establishment offers support to those in need and will continue to provide a plentiful amount of resources. Planned Parenthood’s mission is to “ensure all people have access to the care and resources they need to make informed decisions about their bodies, their lives and their futures.” Some try to misconstrue the actual purposes of Planned Parenthood and other healthcare initiatives in an attempt to further push their harmful and close-minded views.

As many of us know, these institutions provide more resources than just abortions; they provide sex education, primary care, HIV and STD screening, pregnancy testing, contraceptives and even offer men’s health services. To make a generalization and say that both the pro-choice movement and abortion industry are more discriminatory to those in poverty and people of color creates a false narrative and diminishes their experiences.

By not allowing a pro-choice club to exist on campus, we are not acknowledging the concept of differing beliefs and respecting viewpoints that may not be our own. There is no moral concern regarding the addition of a pro-choice club on this campus thatadvocates for reproductive freedom; there is only concern for those who cannot respect the differing views and experiences of their peers and faculty.