Why MOSES Action supports the Right to Reproductive Freedom ballot initiative

As a faith-based organization with an institutional membership structure, MOSES Action draws our

strength from the many diverse congregations that are involved in our work. From its very

beginning, MOSES Action has united faith communities in Detroit and Michigan around issues

that impact all of us: economic and racial justice, transit access, health equity, criminal justice

reform, and many other local issues of concern raised by our member congregations. That unity

is what has enabled us to build power and advance change together.

Having worked hand in hand with an interfaith coalition for nearly 25 years, we understand that

the topic of reproductive rights - particularly abortion - is a historically divisive issue. So we have

carefully considered our position on the Right to Reproductive Freedom ballot initiative -

Proposal 3 - that we will all be voting on in November.

In discussing the issue with our clergy representatives, our grassroots leaders, and the

communities we serve, we have listened to varying perspectives. Having gone through this

process, MOSES Action has come to the decision to support Proposal 3.

MOSES Action is an organization that has always stood for the expansion of our rights,

particularly when it comes to the Black communities that will be most impacted by future

restrictions on reproductive freedoms. Throughout Black history, government officials - most of

them white men - have made decisions about Black women’s bodies and health that have been

harmful, traumatizing, and often deadly. Granting our current lawmakers the ability to dictate

personal health decisions feels like a dangerous step backwards.

A “yes” vote on Prop 3 means that we support the codification of a state constitutional right to

reproductive freedom, which is defined as "the right to make and effectuate decisions about all

matters relating to pregnancy, including but not limited to prenatal care, childbirth, postpartum

care, contraception, sterilization, abortion care, miscarriage management, and infertility care."

The scope of this proposal is much broader than abortion. It protects the autonomy of

women when it comes to making choices about family planning and pregnancy, while also

protecting the concept that such decisions should be safeguarded by a strong right to privacy in

our state.

Following the overturning of Roe vs. Wade, there has been much debate and discussion about

not only reproductive rights, but also the future of other civil liberties that have been granted on

the basis of personal right to privacy. At MOSES Action, we feel that taking away rights and

freedoms is a slippery slope, one that is particularly frightening as we also see the growth of a

political culture that challenges our democratic elections and institutions. Given the recent shift

towards alarming authoritarian attitudes, it is our belief that local political leaders and

governments do not have a legitimate role to play in dictating decisions about something as

deeply personal and nuanced as women’s reproductive health.

Feelings about access to abortion, contraception, and other reproductive health care services

vary dramatically in our state, and within the MOSES Action community itself. We respectfully

submit to you our position, with the understanding that some will take issue with it. To those who

feel otherwise, we continue to value your participation and partnership as we work together to

address the many injustices and inequities that we all agree need to be addressed.

Thank you for your respectful consideration.