Voice for Choice

“’Blessed are the peacemakers’ doesn’t mean keeping peace at all costs. Sometimes we have to stir things up in order to make peace.” —Rev. Cari Jackson

Newsletter of the Kentucky Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice

Spring 2020

Historic Legislative Session

Comes to a Close
by Amber G. Duke
Amber G. Duke is the Communications Director for
the American Civil Liberties Union of Kentucky.

The 2020 General Assembly started down a familiar path,

with legislators filing no fewer than seven pieces of anti-
abortion legislation. A few weeks into the session, the novel Fortunately, all the calls and messages to Governor Beshear
coronavirus pandemic disrupted everything and many pieces from members of KRCRC and allied organizations produced
of legislation were halted. Unfortunately, one of the most good results! The governor vetoed SB9 on April 24, and the
dangerous bills was combined with another and was sent to legislature will not be able to override his veto because it has
the Governor’s desk in the waning hours of the session. concluded its session.

Senate Bill 9 (SB9), the bill for the so-called “protection of In Kentucky, however, bills that don’t make it over the finish
infants born alive during an abortion,” was amended in the line one year have a way of reappearing. Robert Stivers,
House to add the provisions of House Bill 451 (HB451). the president of the Kentucky State Senate, promises that
HB451 expands the powers of the Attorney General’s the measures contained in SB9 will be “a top priority of
Office to enforce Kentucky’s abortion-related statutes, the Senate during the 2021 session.” You can also consider
taking oversight of abortion providers away from the career the following list of bills a preview of the battles we’ll be
health experts at the Cabinet for Health and Family Services.  fighting in 2021 and beyond:
AG Cameron had already made clear that once he had
this authority he would shut down abortion providers during Cont. on page 4
the ongoing COVID-19 state of emergency.

Wayne’s Words
by the Rev. Wayne A. Gnatuk
Wayne A. Gnatuk is the Chair of Kentucky Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice.

As I write these words, it’s the twenty-eighth day I’ve been March, it was clear that the days
sheltering in place. I know I’m not alone when I say that of a pandemic are not the time
I have never seen anything like this! And it seems unlikely to be starting new programs, and
that we’ll be back to normal when you read these words in a with Liz’s concurrence, KRCRC’s
month or so. Like everything else in our world, KRCRC has Board voted to put new chapter
been impacted by the pandemic. development on the back burner
until the “all clear” is sounded. Rev. Wayne A. Gnatuk
As I’ve written in previous newsletters, KRCRC is working We are glad that Liz is employed
this year to start two new chapters, one in Bowling Green full-time elsewhere, and our decision will not financially
and one in eastern Kentucky. Liz Tate, our part-time harm her.
Outreach Worker, has been heading those efforts up. By late
Cont. on page 2
PAGE 2

Wayne’s Words Cont. from page 1.

Liz has also been encouraging faith communities and on legislation impacting choice on the first page of this
congregations to support reproductive freedom. That, too, newsletter.
is temporarily on the back burner. Nevertheless, if you are
interested in starting a “Reproductive Freedom Group” in The KRCRC Board continues to meet during these
your congregation, please do be in touch with either Liz or difficult times, but not, of course, in person! Like lots
me. of other people and organizations, we’re discovering the
glories of virtual meetings.
Our other new initiative, voter engagement work, will be
exploring ways to move forward this spring. We’d like to All of us at KRCRC join all of you in wishing this
be actively encouraging voter registration and get-out-the- pandemic would come to a speedy conclusion. That day
vote efforts as we near the June 23 primary and then the will come, my friends! In the meantime, wash your hands,
November general election. practice social distancing, and keep the faith!

Along with many of you, we’ve been active this year in Peace with Justice,
advocating reproductive freedom at the 2020 session
of the Kentucky legislature. We appreciate your calls Wayne
and letters to your legislators. You’ll find a full report wagnatuk@outlook.com

The Painful Reality of Accessing

Reproductive Care During COVID-19
by Meg Sasse Stern
Meg Sasse Stern is the Support Fund Director for Kentucky
Health Justice Network. She became an abortion access
advocate in 1999 as a volunteer clinic escort at EMW Women’s
Surgical Center in Louisville KY. Meg writes and speaks about
abortion access frequently in local and national spaces when
she’s not flattening the curve by staying #HealthyAtHome.

At Kentucky Health Justice Network (KHJN), our Abortion

Support Fund team has long had plans in in place in case
Meg Stern with Oliver Hall, KHJN Trans Health Director
state or federal court decisions end legal abortions in the
Commonwealth. What we could not anticipate was a fast- KHJN’s statewide teams are small but mighty, and we
spreading virus that makes travel increasingly risky and can do a lot for Kentuckians facing barriers to care, but
wreaks financial havoc on many who already lack support we cannot address every challenge presented by this
and access to resources. crisis.

In recent weeks, KHJN has adapted its policies and practices Already, we know that some people have delayed care for
to these new conditions, while continuing to accompany the weeks, in part because our transportation volunteers cannot
people who call us for support to access essential, time- drive to the far reaches of the state to pick up someone who
sensitive care. In addition to keeping our message lines does not have a supportive companion, or lacks a reliable
open, offering case management, and funding abortions, gas, vehicle to drive to Louisville. Many parents are making
and hotels, we’re also sending hundreds of condoms and unimaginable decisions about child-care at a time when their
doses of free emergency contraceptives into communities support systems are isolated from each other.
where many people are isolating themselves. Through our
All Access Eastern Kentucky partnership with Appalshop One Kentucky family received a fetal anomaly diagnosis
and Power to Decide, Kentuckians can access tools to apply and had to travel to southern Illinois for a 23-week
for birth control through the mail using telemedicine visits
Cont. on page 5
through a program called BCBenefits.
In the Age of COVID-19,

PAGE 3
Planned Parenthood’s Doors Stay Open
and Services are Expanded
by Heather Bruner
Heather Bruner works as Donor Engagement Officer for
Planned Parenthood of Indiana and Kentucky.

As the world works to flatten the curve and contain the importance of social isolation,
community spread of COVID-19, the demand for abortions and we are currently providing
Heather Bruner
is on the rise. Planned Parenthood affiliates across the face masks to all patients.
country are reporting rising numbers of patients, and our
Louisville Health Center is prouder than ever to be able to Our Education Department has
serve our community under our current temporary license. also been very innovative in its response to the virus. Our
Teen Council, which typically meets weekly, has continued to
Because an increasing number of patients can’t go to urgent meet virtually. Staff have been able to continue their lesson
care clinics and emergency departments because of the surge plans while also supporting these high school students at a
in COVID-19 cases, it is critical that our doors stay open — time when they are unable to enjoy many rites of passage
to treat the urinary tract infection that, if untreated, could such as spring breaks, proms, and graduations.
become a kidney infection; to treat a sexually transmitted
infection that if untreated could lead to Pelvic Inflammatory Planned Parenthood Advocates of Kentucky and our
Disease or infertility; to provide contraception to prevent Political Action Committee have continued their work, which
pregnancy; and to terminate a pregnancy before termination has prevented the passage of any bills that restrict abortion
is no longer an option. in this legislative session. They are now moving forward with
virtual interviews of candidates for potential endorsement.
Abortion services at our Louisville Health Center began in
March, 2020, and we continue to go through the process Planned Parenthood has long prided itself on providing
to secure our full license. To meet the increased need care that is compassionate and innovative. Our rapid
for abortion care during this global pandemic, we will be response in this time
providing additional days to the calendar for our patients. of tragedy has saved
Meanwhile, our family planning services remain open five lives and strengthened
days a week providing cancer and STI screenings, pap tests, our community. As we
IUDs, and LEEP procedures. go through this time
together, trust that our
Planned Parenthood acted quickly to implement CDC doors will stay open and
guidelines to protect our patients and staff. We instituted we will continue to see
social distancing in our waiting rooms, and shortly afterward Kentuckians. Stay safe,
we began COVID-19 screenings and continue to take the and we will see you all
temperatures of every person who visits our centers. Our on the other side.
clinicians have used this opportunity to educate on the

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PAGE 4

Legislative Session Cont. from page 1.

• House Bill 67, an anti-abortion constitutional Proactive pieces of legislation often take years to move
amendment, would have added political language about in hostile legislatures like Kentucky’s. An important piece
abortion to Kentucky’s constitution. It would assert that of proactive legislation, House Bill 138 (HB138), the
there is no legal right to an abortion that can be argued Maternal CARE Act, died in the House without a hearing.
through the provisions of Kentucky’s constitution. The bill The legislation, sponsored by Rep. Attica Scott, would
passed the House 71-21 and died in the Senate. address racial disparities in maternal mortality. Currently,
the maternal mortality rate is 2.5 times as high for Black
• House Bill 370 would have targeted abortion providers women as for white women. HB138 would require implicit
with new, burdensome regulations on the handling of bias training for medical professionals, more access to
biological tissue. The bill died in the House. doula services for poor Kentuckians, and better tracking
of maternal and infant deaths in the Commonwealth. The
• House Bill 391 would have allowed the Auditor of Public ACLU-KY Advocacy Team looks forward to continuing
Accounts to perform an annual audit of abortion reports our work with Rep. Scott on this important measure.
to Vital Statistics. The bill died in the House.
As always, please follow ACLU-KY on Facebook,
• House Bill 142, the abortion gag rule, would have Twitter, and Instagram for reproductive freedom updates
prohibited the payment of funds from public agencies to throughout the year. Thank you, KRCRC members
any entity that performs, induces, refers for, or counsels in and supporters, for your commitment, dedication, and
favor of abortions. The bill died in the House. partnership in this work.

Fighting for Reproductive Choice

by Stephanie Compton
Stephanie Compton recently joined the KRCRC Board of Directors.
Here, she explains why she made this commitment.
I am excited to join KRCRC and continue fighting for Just to share some more about
reproductive choice. Kentucky has always been my home and me: I am from Hodgenville,
a place I love. The extreme legislation and rhetoric brought Kentucky and graduated from
to Kentucky during Governor Matt Bevin’s term was ugly. Larue County High School in
It showed an alarming trend and complete disregard for 1992. I attended Morehead
separation of church and state. State University and obtained Stephanie Compton
a Bachelor of Arts degree in
For the first time in my life, I have become civically engaged. Sociology. I currently reside
I have advocated for public education, labor, reproductive in Spencer County with my
choice, and gun sense laws in Frankfort and DC. It was a big husband and three children. I became a candidate for State
lifestyle change from my first forty years—a change I wish to Senate in 2018 to promote progressive policies in Kentucky.
continue. In 2019, I was elected as Chair of the Spencer County
Democratic Party. I also became an alumna of Emerge
Kentucky.
Care With Compassion

PAGE 5
by Melissa Bane Sevier
Melissa Bane Sevier is a minister, writer, and photographer.
She is a member of KRCRC’s Lexington chapter.
On March 7, just before the Governor of Kentucky asked
people to stop gathering in groups, KRCRC sponsored a
one-day Compassionate Care Training session in Louisville.

Trainers Wayne A. Gnatuk and Melissa Bane Sevier led

participants in discussions of how to support persons
who are facing reproductive decisions and/or experiencing
reproductive loss.
Melissa Bane Sevier
The group was somewhat diverse in age and experience,
coming from a graduate (seminary) community, from care to lead the conversation. Throughout, the care-seeker
service professions, and from other life circumstances. They was the focus of the day’s work, and spiritual care was always
learned about the history of attitudes and policy regarding at the heart of every reflection.
reproduction in our country, about current local law, and
about providing appropriate spiritual care for those who In the future, post COVID-19, KRCRC hopes to hold more
need it. Compassionate Care Training sessions throughout the state.
Contact us if your faith community or group would like to
An overview of different faiths and spiritualities was host one.
accompanied by reminders to allow the person seeking

Care During Covid-19 Cont. from page 2.

termination. KHJN worked with the Midwest Access exceptions into abortion bans or to have only one or
Coalition and Hope Clinic in Granite City, Illinois, to two abortion clinics per state. The calculated erosion of
make sure this family’s travel and care expenses were abortion access has created a far more complicated, and
covered. Organizations can certainly provide relief by sometimes dangerous scenario for those needing this time-
covering costs, but this family had to endure the extra sensitive essential care during this pandemic.
stress associated with a road trip and a hotel stay during
a pandemic, and they also experienced TWO flat tires on I am writing this article a few days into our second
their journey. month of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Kentucky.
We are only a few weeks into our shelter-in-place order.
These examples show that the Kentuckians who are Kentucky families are suffering in ways that cannot be fully
hit hardest during this crisis are those who already face understood. Not only will this anguish continue for weeks
systemic barriers to equity and justice. Their stories also and likely for months, but people will also find comfort,
demonstrate how dangerous any restriction on abortion companionship, and even joy during this time of social
access is, for any reason. We’ve always known that access distancing and isolating with their partners. There will be
to birth control and abortion in Kentucky is in dire straits. an increase in pregnancies during this pandemic. Some of those
We could not anticipate a fast-moving, invisible and deadly pregnancies will be the result of non-consensual actions.
virus that turns what could be a simple appointment into a Some pregnancies will be wanted, but many will require
complex journey that could be dangerous. termination. People who need to terminate a pregnancy
during or following this pandemic deserve to have access
Imagine how much safer it would be to access care if to that procedure quickly and with dignity. We look
ten Kentucky counties had abortion providers instead of forward to supporting them, but we know it will be harder
only one. What if Kentuckians could meet with abortion than it needs to be.
providers using telehealth, as we are doing for so many
other basic needs? This is why it is not sufficient to write
 The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:
PAGE 6

A Nuanced Pro-Choice Position

by Jean Abshire
Jean Abshire is a member of the KRCRC Board and a
professor of political science at Indiana University Southeast.
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is circumstances, the Social Statement especially highlights
among the largest Christian denominations in the country non-consensual intercourse, threat to the life of the mother,
with about four million members. The 1991 Churchwide and fetal abnormality as circumstances in which a decision
Assembly adopted the “Social Statement: Abortion” that for an abortion may be morally justifiable.
remains the policy statement of the church today. While
it supports the protection of abortion rights, the church’s The ELCA Statement opposes many legal restrictions on
official position is both moderate and nuanced. abortion access, while also stating that there should be
some regulation of abortion. The statement opposes the
In the Social Statement, the ELCA acknowledges difference outlawing of abortion in all cases, laws preventing access
of opinion within the church on the question of abortion to information about all available options for people facing
and suggests a moral obligation to deliberate on divisive unintended pregnancies, laws that deny access to safe and
questions. The Pew Research Center’s Religious Landscape affordable services for morally justifiable abortions, and laws
Study illuminates the divisions among ELCA members: in intended to harass those contemplating an abortion.
2014, 65% of members said that abortion should be legal in
all or most cases and 32% suggested that it should be illegal This position statement has not changed in decades.
in most or all cases. This indicates a slight strengthening of The ELCA Presiding Bishop, the Rev. Elizabeth Eaton,
support for abortion rights since the prior Pew study in 2007 responded to newly aggressive attacks on abortion rights
when the ratio was 61% supportive of abortion rights to in various states, including Kentucky, by issuing a letter on
33% opposed. abortion in May 2019. While reaffirming the 1991 Social
Statement, Bishop Eaton wrote, “Amid the legislative
According to the Social Statement, abortion should be an challenges to access to abortion, we must remember that this
option of last resort. This is rooted in the convictions of the church supports ongoing access to legal abortion as well as
faith, including the beliefs that humans are endowed with access to abortion services and reproductive health care that
dignity and created in the image of God, that the gift of is not restricted by economic factors.”
human life comes from God and has intrinsic value, and that
love of one’s neighbor embraces the most vulnerable among
us, including the pregnant woman and the fetus. However,
the ELCA statement goes on to say that, if abortion is to
be a last resort, it is incumbent on the church to advocate a
reduction in the number of unintended pregnancies through
sex education and contraception and to support families
through improved social services and through policies such
as parental leave.

The church further notes the moral complexities of many

situations in which people seeking abortions find themselves.
Beyond general compassion for those facing difficult

Help KRCRC
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Louisville, KY 40204
Reproductive Choice: How to Solve the Problem

PAGE 7
by Honi Marleen Goldman
Honi Marleen Goldman is a journalist and the director of Reproductive Rights for Kentucky PAC.
This controversy over reproductive choice should not be VoteNowKY is a non-partisan, 501(c)(3) project sponsored
happening. In order to reverse this abuse (and yes, this is by the Coalition of Women’s Organizations along with
domestic violence), we need to elect legislators who will other non-partisan groups. Its aim is to encourage voter
protect and advance reproductive justice as well as to re-elect turnout. VoteNowKY concentrates on populations who do
those officials who have stood up for us. not usually vote: Generation Z, millennials, and residents in
low-turnout precincts. Using all forms of social media and
There are two organizations that focus on these goals and direct flyers and posters, VoteNowKY is able to reach these
need your financial support: important demographics.

Reproductive Rights for Kentucky PAC (RRFKY) is the For voting information, www.VoteNowKY.org. To donate:
only pro-choice federal PAC (political action committee) in Sarah Waskey, Treasurer, 730 West Markey Street, Suite 200,
Kentucky. In 2014, the year-old PAC financially and publicly Louisville KY 40202.
endorsed 18 Kentucky state and federal candidates; in 2016,
12 candidates; and in 2018, 25 candidates. RRFKY will vet
every candidate after the June 23 primary. All contributions
go directly to the qualified candidates.

For information and online donations: www.rrfky.org or

mail to P.O. Box 33071, Louisville KY, 40232-3071.

KRCRC Reproductive Justice Salon, January 26, 2020

In commemoration of the Supreme Court’s
Roe v. Wade decision, which established a constitutional
right to abortion, KRCRC held a “Reproductive Heather
Justice Salon” at Waterfront Botanical Gardens in Thum-Gerber,
Louisville. The Rev. Cari Jackson, a leader of the a student at the
national Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, Louisville
was keynote speaker, and she set the tone for a Presbyterian
Theological
program that featured poetry, music, and reflections by Seminary, reflected
members of our community. on the relationship
between religious
belief and
reproductive
freedom.
The Reverend Cari
Jackson (center) with
Carole Gnatuk and
Carol Savkovich,
who provided musical
interludes.
 Kentucky Religious Coalition
for Reproductive Choice
PO Box 4065
Louisville, KY 40204

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Ann T. Allen
KRCRC Design
MISSION& Layout:
STATEMENT KRCRC MISSION STATEMENT
Jennifer Shank
he mission of the Kentucky Religious The mission of the Kentucky Religious
Voice for Choice is aChoice is to The mission of the Kentucky Religious
alition for Reproductive Coalition for Reproductive Choice is to
publication of the Coalition for Reproductive Choice is to
ect the moral power
Kentucky of people of faith
Religious direct the moral power of people of faith
d religiousCoalition
organizations
for to safeguard
mobilize the moral power of people of faith
and religious organizations to safeguard
d advanceReproductive
reproductive Choice.
justice in the and conscience
and advance to safeguard
reproductive justiceand
in the
mmonwealth of Kentucky. We do this advance reproductive
Commonwealth justice
of Kentucky. Weindothe
this
Tel: 1.866.606.0988
ugh education, advocacy, counseling and
Email: info@krcrc.org Commonwealth of Kentucky.
through education, advocacy, counseling and
Web: www.krcrc.org
ort of organizations with related goals. support of organizations with related goals.
Twitter: @Ky_RCRC
We do this through advocacy, education, and
KRCRC support of organizations with related goals.
PO Box 4065
Louisville, KY 40204