HISPANIC CULTURES ARE profoundly relational. Family is family whoever they are, whatever they believe, and whatever they have done. Family also includes people who are not blood relations; being family is a way of life. Being family means that the suffering of our daughters and our mothers, our sisters and our cousins, matters. Our relationship with God also matters to us, and how we see and sense the voice of God influences our choices.
So, what does this all mean when it comes to abortion?
Whether or not Hispanics fight to affirm Roe v. Wade, our fundamental perspectives may not fit neatly into the two sides of the debate. While some values are shared across generations, they are differently weighted in ways that impact political decisions, creating a family dialogue that is profound and deeply emotional.
A core precept of liberation theology in Latin America, and its evangelical cousin misión integral (holistic mission), is the power of place and position in determining perspective. While it is not possible to talk about a single “Hispanic culture,” given the broad diversity of the Hispanic community, there are common experiences and values between various Hispanic cultures that impact the way that we see the moral, scriptural, and spiritual issues in the abortion/choice debate.
The following formative experiences and values have significant impact for many of us.
Seeing God in babies. I remember when I was a pastor of an English- and Spanish-speaking congregation trying to explain to the English-speaking members why we let children run around the church freely, appreciating their playfulness. On a deeper level, I remember explaining why we would take in a distant cousin’s child to live with us without a moment’s hesitation. In traditional Hispanic Catholic circles, the figure of Christ as a child is one of the most popular depictions, along with Madonna and child images. There are many Hispanic people who are deeply troubled by abortion. If we can’t know the exact point at which cells become a baby, many Hispanics would feel like we should approach the question with fear and trembling.
Religious freedom. In the United States, our broken immigration system has separated families and destroyed dreams. Regardless of political position, most Hispanics pray for family and church members who are trying to circumvent deportation, and some actively support sanctuary programs, which stand up against immigration law to save lives. In various Latin American countries, Protestant Christians have experienced persecution and marginalization through the integration of the Roman Catholic Church and the state. Many Hispanics resonate deeply with individuals and families having the right to make religious decisions without the interference of the state. This perspective can lay a foundation for supporting the right of a pregnant person and their family to choose whether or not to have an abortion.
Government care for the most vulnerable. The majority of Hispanic voters, according to the Center for American Progress, support a strong safety net of government programs in general, which would certainly extend to making it possible for women to have the support necessary to care for themselves and their children. The image of a person who protects life in the womb and not afterward would not fit Hispanics, regardless of our position on abortion.
Discrimination. Most Hispanics, Pew Research found, believe that racial and class discrimination occur and are unacceptable. Some also are strongly opposed to machismo—particularly younger Hispanics. The loss of Roe v. Wade would prevent abortions primarily for poor women—not for rich women who could travel. It could also strengthen the power of men over women. These are factors that connect Hispanic beliefs and feelings about discrimination with the potential loss of Roe v. Wade.
To see the issue through Hispanic eyes is to see that there are more than two possible positions. Recognizing this opens us up to standing and struggling with each other on common sacred ground.
Rev. Alexia Salvatierra, a pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, is academic dean of Centro Latino at Fuller Theological Seminary in California and co-chair of Sojourners' board.
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