Religious leaders for choice

Gazette, The (Colorado Springs), Jan 15, 2005 by PAUL ASAY THE GAZETTE

A group of religious leaders is saying you can have your faith and be pro-choice, too.

Colorado Springs Voices of Faith for Choice will present a panel discussion, "Voices of Choice: Our Lives, Our Faith, Our Choice," at 6 p.m. Thursday at Colorado College's Gaylord Hall. The panelists support abortion rights and believe their support is compatible with their faith. The panel's task, says the Rev. Benjamin Broadbent, is to explain why.

"My intention, and I think it's the intention of the whole group, is not to demonize (the anti-abortion argument) but articulate why a pro-choice position is the most compassionate," said Broadbent, associate pastor for the First Congregational Church-United Church of Christ downtown.

Broadbent will be joined by: the Rev. Benjamin Reynolds, senior pastor, Emmanuel Missionary Baptist Church; Matthew Johnson-Doyle, pastor, High Plains Unitarian-Universalist Church; Sarah Bender of the Springs Mountain Sangha, a Zen Buddhist group; and Jo Langer- Reichardt, who will offer a Catholic perspective.

Bruce Coriell, Colorado College chaplain, will moderate.

This is the third annual event by Voices of Faith for Choice, held near the Jan. 22 anniversary of the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion. The two previous events were religious services, which attracted 200 to 250 people. But the group wanted to change the format to spark dialogue.

"We wanted to kind of engage the community on the issues around us," Broadbent said.

Members briefly discussed including opposing views on the panel but decided against it.

"I wouldn't know how to go about doing that in a way that was mutually beneficial and respectful and open," Broadbent said.

Such dialogues may come about, he added.

"We, as an organization, are still finding our voice," Broadbent said. "The next step is finding an opportunity for some kind of debate."

CONTACT THE WRITER: 636-0367 or pasay@gazette.com

THE DETAILS

Voices of Choice: Our Lives, Our Faith, Our Choice

When: 6-8:30 p.m. Thursday

Where: Gaylord Hall at Colorado

College

Cost: free