Frederica Mathewes-Green
Encyclopedia
Frederica Mathewes-Green (born 1952) is an Eastern Orthodox author and speaker on the subjects of religion
and abortion
.
Mathewes-Green holds a BA in English from the University of South Carolina
(1974) and an MA in Theological Studies from Virginia Theological Seminary
(1977). Her husband, Fr. Gregory Mathewes-Green, is an Eastern Orthodox priest and former Episcopal priest who was one of the undersigneds of the Baltimore Declaration
. She converted to Orthodoxy from the Episcopal Church in 1993 along with her husband and some parishioners from their former parish. She writes about Orthodoxy with a folksy and humorous style that have led to comparisons to Erma Bombeck
and Garrison Keillor
.
Mathewes-Green is strongly pro-life
and writes and speaks against abortion. She is also critical of the more extreme elements of the pro-life movement and advocates more dialogue with pro-choice
advocates. She has served on the steering committee of the Common Ground Network for Life and Choice and is a past vice-president of Feminists for Life of America.
She was also one of 40 reviewers of the Bible Literacy Project's literature curriculum for public high schools, The Bible and Its Influence
.
She has also contributed to the series, The Christians: Their First Two Thousand Years, produced by the Society to Explore and Record Christian History.
Religion
Religion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values. Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to...
and abortion
Abortion
Abortion is defined as the termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo prior to viability. An abortion can occur spontaneously, in which case it is usually called a miscarriage, or it can be purposely induced...
.
Mathewes-Green holds a BA in English from the University of South Carolina
University of South Carolina
The University of South Carolina is a public, co-educational research university located in Columbia, South Carolina, United States, with 7 surrounding satellite campuses. Its historic campus covers over in downtown Columbia not far from the South Carolina State House...
(1974) and an MA in Theological Studies from Virginia Theological Seminary
Virginia Theological Seminary
Virginia Theological Seminary , formally called the Protestant Episcopal Theological Seminary in Virginia, is the largest accredited Episcopal seminary in the United States. Founded in 1818, VTS is situated on an campus in Alexandria, Virginia, just a few miles from downtown Washington, DC. VTS...
(1977). Her husband, Fr. Gregory Mathewes-Green, is an Eastern Orthodox priest and former Episcopal priest who was one of the undersigneds of the Baltimore Declaration
Baltimore Declaration
The Baltimore Declaration was a piece written by six Episcopal priests in the Diocese of Maryland in 1991 regarding affirmation of orthodox Christianity. It is sometimes used as a manifesto by Episcopal factions which wish to reaffirm orthodox Christian principles within the Episcopal...
. She converted to Orthodoxy from the Episcopal Church in 1993 along with her husband and some parishioners from their former parish. She writes about Orthodoxy with a folksy and humorous style that have led to comparisons to Erma Bombeck
Erma Bombeck
Erma Louise Bombeck was an American humorist who achieved great popularity for her newspaper column that described suburban home life from the mid-1960s until the late 1990s...
and Garrison Keillor
Garrison Keillor
Gary Edward "Garrison" Keillor is an American author, storyteller, humorist, and radio personality. He is known as host of the Minnesota Public Radio show A Prairie Home Companion Gary Edward "Garrison" Keillor (born August 7, 1942) is an American author, storyteller, humorist, and radio...
.
Mathewes-Green is strongly pro-life
Pro-life
Opposition to the legalization of abortion is centered around the pro-life, or anti-abortion, movement, a social and political movement opposing elective abortion on moral grounds and supporting its legal prohibition or restriction...
and writes and speaks against abortion. She is also critical of the more extreme elements of the pro-life movement and advocates more dialogue with pro-choice
Pro-choice
Support for the legalization of abortion is centered around the pro-choice movement, a sociopolitical movement supporting the ethical view that a woman should have the legal right to elective abortion, meaning the right to terminate her pregnancy....
advocates. She has served on the steering committee of the Common Ground Network for Life and Choice and is a past vice-president of Feminists for Life of America.
She was also one of 40 reviewers of the Bible Literacy Project's literature curriculum for public high schools, The Bible and Its Influence
The Bible and Its Influence
The Bible and Its Influence is a textbook first published in 2005 to facilitate teaching about the Bible in American public high schools. Its publishers, the Bible Literacy Project, say the textbook allows schools to study the Bible academically while fully respecting the Establishment Clause of...
.
Works
Her books include:- Facing East, which recounts her experience as a convert to Orthodoxy.
- The Corner of East and Now, a sequel to Facing East.
- First Fruits of Prayer: A Forty-Day Journey Through the Canon of St. Andrew, a devotional book for the Orthodox season of Great LentGreat LentGreat Lent, or the Great Fast, is the most important fasting season in the church year in Eastern Christianity, which prepares Christians for the greatest feast of the church year, Pascha . In many ways Great Lent is similar to Lent in Western Christianity...
. - The Illumined Heart: The Ancient Christian Path of Transformation, a spiritual book.
- The Open Door: Entering the Sanctuary of Icons and Prayer (Pocket Faith Series, 4), a devotional book focusing on icons.
- Gender: Men, Women, Sex and Feminism
- Real Choices: Listening to Women, Looking for Alternatives to Abortion
She has also contributed to the series, The Christians: Their First Two Thousand Years, produced by the Society to Explore and Record Christian History.