Most Christians are not in favour of abortion. This is why it's startling to hear Christian doctor Sarah Wallett state that she performs abortions for Planned Parenthood in honour of her faith.
Wallett writes in an article for Refinery 29 that she was raised in a loving Christian home in Lexington, South Carolina. Her family goes to church regularly, says prayers before meals, and helps other people out whenever they can.
Because of this upbringing, Wallett says she came to work for Planned Parenthood "deliberately."
"The compassion and empathy I learned from my Christian faith are fundamental to my work," she says. "Too often, women who choose to have an abortion face significant stigma and shame — I see it every day."
Protesters often picket their clinics shouting "murderer" and other offensive words, to the chagrin and consternation of Wallett's patients. More often than not, Wallett says her patients feel the need to explain their decision to have an abortion.
The doctor believes abortion is "a task no one should ever have to do." At the same time, she says her faith teaches her to withhold judgment and extend acceptance. As such, she always gives assurance to all her patients.
"Good, moral women have abortions every day, and it's my obligation as a physician and a person of faith to provide at least one counterpoint to the shameful feelings a woman has and the misinformation she hears that cause her so much pain," she says.
Being an abortion service provider also leaves a stigma, says Wallett, adding that she is reluctant and actually afraid to talk about her work. She says she and her colleagues have been harassed and received death threats. Some were even murdered. Even within the faith community, Wallett felt alone.
"I also now feel uncomfortable in my own faith community — a pillar in my life — because of a lack of acceptance for my work, and I have distanced myself from what was once a strong support system for me," she shares.
Wallett knows there are many more mountains to climb before abortion becomes an accepted practice, but for her part, she chooses to uphold her line of work no matter what other people might say.
"Many of my patients also have strong faith, and I hope that they can find the same comfort, acceptance, and understanding in their own lives as I have," she says.
