[UUAA news] UUAA: Pastoral Message from Rev. Manish

[Rev. Manish Mishra-Marzetti]

 A PASTORAL MESSAGE FROM REV. MANISH May 4, 2022 Dear Ones, It has been a jarring week at the recognition that the United States Supreme Court may be moving towards overturning Roe v. Wade, and almost fifty years of legal precedence alongside it. However justified, such a ruling would be a painful blow to the generations of women and allies who have fought for a woman’s right to bodily autonomy, including the right to make one’s own reproductive health decisions.    While we recognize that the court’s final ruling has not yet been issued, the dangers of the direction in which the court appears to be headed are clearly apparent. Not only would access to abortion be impacted - a key Unitarian Universalist justice commitment - but the strict constructionist juris prudence upon which the draft ruling relies could broadly impact other important UU social justice commitments. The draft ruling, as constituted, could legally impact matters related to privacy, marriage equality, and other civil liberties and civil rights that are not explicitly addressed in the Constitution and instead have relied on looser (less literal and rigid) interpretations of the Constitution for their legal grounding. It is not an exaggeration to state that there is much at stake for us Unitarian Universalists with this ruling. It is not lost on me that this latest national concern arrives at a time when we Unitarian Universalists were already holding deeply in our hearts the ongoing crisis in Ukraine, with its tragic harm and suffering, and the ever-present possibility that this conflict could deepen and widen into a global war. Our uncertain world may be feeling even more uncertain to you right now. If so, please know that you are not alone. My heart - my love and care - are with you. You are deeply connected to a local community of individuals who share your values, who share a commitment to the dignity, equality, and inclusivity of all. Beyond our congregation, we are each connected to the wider trajectory and history of Unitarian Universalism. We are the people that led the reproductive rights movement in the United States and helped found Planned Parenthood (thank you Margaret Sanger, a Unitarian!); we were pioneers in working toward national marriage equality (thank you Unitarian Universalist Hillary Goodridge, and countless others!); we are the people who helped draft the 1948 United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 12 of which enshrines the global commitment to privacy as a fundamental human right. Much is uncertain and in flux around us, but we can trust what we know to be true of our Unitarian Universalist faith: whenever and wherever the voices supporting oppression, inequality, and harm have arisen, we Unitarian Universalists show up and we continue showing up until a greater and deeper justice is won. This is true of us. Our history as a faith tradition proves it in spades. Whatever the weeks and months ahead may hold, I take some measure of comfort in knowing that we are each other’s chosen family on life’s journey. Within our First UU of Ann Arbor community and beyond, we have, and will continue to have, each other’s backs. We will show up and speak up - at City Council meetings, in Lansing, in Washington DC, at the United Nations, wherever we UUs are needed - in support of the Beloved Community that Dr. King spoke of and that we know is possible. Take heart. Keep faith. We have each other, and our chalice burns bright. With much love, Rev. Manish Mishra-Marzetti P.S. – If you could use a little bit of extra hope this day, please consider joining your UU siblings from across the country for a national worship service led by DRUUMM (Diverse Revolutionary UU Multicultural Ministries), our UU people of color organization. This worship service is open to all, irrespective of whatever identities one may hold, and UUAA is one of the co-sponsors of this event. The worship service will take place over Zoom at 8:30pm Eastern tonight, Wed. May 4, 2022, and may be accessed via this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84293072672 .  ‌ ‌ ‌ First Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Ann Arbor | 4001 Ann Arbor-Saline Rd., Ann Arbor, MI 48103 Unsubscribe news3 at uuaa.org Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice Sent by communications at uuaa.org powered by Try email marketing for free today!
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