I know.....but you have done the right thing and have stood true to your principles. I applaud you.

to ANY organization, group or politician who refuses to recognize women's full autonomy.

that must have been a tough decision.

I hope that you put your reasoning on paper and circulated it. So that others, beyond the "head penguin" and board knows your thoughts.

It's bad enough when an authority states it, but when the women believes it, that's the worst part. Knew a woman who dropped out of high school for getting pregnant, then proceeded with having 8 more kids... I don't think she was even catholic either. She just thought she'd go to hell for not having those kids. No back up support either. Never got her GED from what I remember...

easter tradition

You have to keep your sanity above all else. When you don't take care of yourself, you can't care for others. You did your part with the 6 years of service you gave them.

There will be other opportunities come your way, where you can make a difference, and you don't have to twist yourself up in order to help.

I swear, there is this creeping "stealth" religious right influence, even in some circles masquerading as advocacy for women. We should call these people on what they're doing, and pull the masks off. It's the religious right, pure and simple. It's what's driving this guilt-promotion, slut shaming, anti-sex, anti-sexual freedom and anti-contraception agenda.

Clearly.

it's a rough decision, but i think you did the right thing.

You did the RIGHT THING by rejecting their crap. Be Proud! I am and I don't even know you. You should write a letter to the local newspaper and tell them WHY YOU REJECTED ANOTHER TERM! Stand proud and show people that this crap has to STOP.

There are many things I don't do because I live in one of those RED STATES where there is a church on every other corner. And it's because of what you mention in your post. It stifles people like me because I just won't put up with that women hating crap ANYMORE. Sorry, don't mean to shout but being an ex-Catholic gets the best of me sometimes.

...they let you go. What a loss for the women, the community and the Church. Glad you told them why, that certainly must have been difficult though, I suspect, not the most difficult part. The Church is suffering a loss of faith I'm afraid and ignoring the doctrine of free will.

I'll bet that you get more donations and qualify
for gov't grants.

The OP clearly has some expertise in this, and can use this story to raise funds for it.

and nearly approved by the church.

A life-long Catholic, now 53, I quit the Church in 2004 in the midst of the perfect storm of divorce and disagreement over contraception. As a matter of conscience I just had to say no. Against the wishes of my entire family I gave my daughter, now 24, full access to birth control/contraception. You can still find ways to help you community with a clear conscience. Peace.

I'm sure there's another place that can use your energy and skills.

Catholics have stepped up their ridiculous rhetoric on anti-family planning. some friends and I were talking about an etopic 'pregnancy' the other day. This involves a fertilized, implanted fetus, so according to the church, it has a soul and a right to live, while the suffering woman is nothing more than fetus incubator. The fact that the fetus will die and the woman will either die or have lifelong complications doesn't matter to the church, if they want to maintain internal consistency of their woman hating bullshit.
I'm sorry the clinic is losing such a great advocate

What has the reaction been?

I declined to re-up after the March meeting. The May meeting is next week. I'm not going to make a big deal over it (out of respect for the one sister who has worked tirelessly to get this shelter up & running), but if the shit-stirrer opens fire, I will respond.

That had to be such a difficult choice. I applaud you for your "tough love" decision. I hope they were listening when you told them why.

Did you get any direct feedback when you told them?

not sure what the shit-stirring head penguin thinks as I haven't seen her since. But she'll be there at the board meeting (my last!!!) this coming week.