The hardest conversations I’ve ever had about reproductive justice are when I am asked how I can advocate for reproductive justice when I am a Christian.

I am a Christian — a black Christian woman — and I am proud to use my law degree and voice to help advance the fight for reproductive justice. But this hasn’t always been the case. When I was first awarded my Reproductive Justice Fellowship placement, there were a few times when I was afraid to tell some people about the work I was going to be doing because I didn’t want to get into a discussion about whether my work was going to help me continue to grow as a Christian and bring others to Christ.

I was apprehensive about being asked, “How can you be a Christian and believe the right to abortion?” or “How can you fight for LGBTQ rights when the Bible clearly says that it is a sin?” Perhaps what makes it worse is that majority of the time, these questions and comments have come from friends who I believed understood and respected my passion. When faced with these questions, it often feels as though people are asking with the intent to challenge my faith against what they believe is the worse thing any Christian could do – say that sin is okay. It felt like others were trying to tell me my passion for advocating for reproductive justice — my career —  wasn’t the Christian thing to do. That believing that everyone should have access to a full range of sexual and reproductive health services and health information isn’t somehow Christian.

Often, it’s hard to talk about reproductive justice issues without talking about religion. Lawmakers invoke religious principles when passing laws that restrict people from accessing the health care they deserve, as though there is only one “true” way to be a Christian, and that is to prevent people from getting the sexual and reproductive health information, care, and services they need. We have seen examples of this in the latest six-week abortion bans that have been proposed or passed in Southern states, and in Ohio.

I disagree. As a Christian, I am tired of seeing my religion used to shame those who are self-determining their reproductive lives. I am tired of seeing a narrow version of Christianity used to create laws that will be used against those who do not practice or believe in that same faith. But most of all, I am tired of seeing the hurt and pain that my religion causes so many people, instead of the love and compassion they deserve.

One of the ways I have seen religion – often by people who call themselves Christians – be used as a tactic to restrict others from the care they deserve is through crisis pregnancy centers. These organizations deceive people looking for reproductive care, often provide misleading or false information about abortion care and delaying people from receiving health care they deserve – and some do this without even having a valid medical license. They often do not advertise as anti-choice care providers and only offer minimum services and don’t offer assistance to patients who still wish to have an abortion. This wrongdoing – preying on marginalized communities, primarily those of color, with lies and deception – screams the loudest to me.

As a Christian, I am tired of seeing my religion used to shame those who are self-determining their reproductive lives. I am tired of seeing a narrow version of Christianity used to create laws that will be used against those who do not practice or believe in that same faith.

I believe in treating people with compassion, dignity and respect as they navigate their own reproductive health and provide for themselves and their families. My religion was founded on the principles of love, and that’s what I bring to the work I do every day as a lawyer for reproductive justice.

Needless to say, within the eight months that I have been working as a Reproductive Justice State Fellow, I have found my voice and confidence to speak on these issues from both a legal and personal religious experience. I no longer fear questions from others when they ask how I do this work with my religious beliefs. I do this work so that those around me and around the world can see that Christians do believe in reproductive justice and the many issues that it covers! I believe in abortion rights. I believe in LGBTQ+ rights. I believe in sex education. I believe sex work is work. I believe in human rights.

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