Thread by @EngagedPureLand

Presenting "Thoughtful and Compassionate Choice: Abortion and the Buddhist Churches of America." As Texas severely restricts it, let us consider the history of the issue in the BCA, which was the 1st American #Buddhist organization to issue an official stance on #abortion.

The 1970 BCA Ministers Seminar featured keynote speaker Effie Chow from the San Francisco Chinatown Planned Parenthood. Her appearance was organized by the BCA Youth Department, which recognized sexual issues (including abortion) as main concerns of young Buddhists.

Rev. Tesshi Aoyama of the BCA was the world's first hospital chaplain (Buddhist clergy have visited hospitals since ancient times, but not as trained, official chaplains). In 1971-1972 he served at Planned Parenthood in Los Angeles, advising patients about abortion etc.

In December 1972, Rev. Aoyama held a 7-hour workshop at the Institute for Buddhist Studies, where he introduced Clinical Pastoral Education techniques to BCA ministers and lay leaders. His training session included advice from his work with patients needing abortion.

In 1983, the newly formed BCA Social Issues Committee, chaired by Rev. Ryo Imamura, decided that abortion would be the first issue it examined. The Committee conducted extensive research, invited #ProLife and #ProChoice speakers to address them, and held 7 meetings to discuss.

They presented an official stance for consideration by the BCA National Council. They extensively laid out both sides of the issue, described the pros and cons of either position, and considered the Jodo Shinshu Buddhist views of non-harming and inescapable karmic entanglement.

The National Council accepted the stance and published it as an official BCA pamphlet in 1984. This was the first-ever statement on abortion by an American Buddhist organization, and as such was cited numerous times in future discussions by Buddhists and non-Buddhists alike.

The pamphlet, "A Shin Buddhist Stance on Abortion," took the position that abortion was a regrettable act that ultimately must be decided upon by "the woman carrying the fetus, and no one else," and advised Buddhists to encourage a "thoughtful and compassionate" choice.

With the BCA on record as pro-choice, abortion was not a signficant point of turmoil in Jodo Shinshu temples in subsequent decades. Not only the official denomination, but members as a whole accepted and supported the pro-choice position.

Today, support of abortion rights is normal in the BCA. For example, Nicole Sumida of the Midwest Buddhist Temple (in Chicago) joined the leadership team of Oak Park Progressive Women and helped raise $17,000 for Planned Parenthood in 2017.

Jodo Shinshu, like all forms of Buddhism, is historically patriarchal, and has struggled toward greater equality.

However, the unique Jodo Shinshu insight into human nature has allowed for greater flexibility and sensitivity on moral issues, with the result that repression of reproductive rights has NOT been a significant expression of patriarchy.

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