LLL & religion?

[marrymeflyfree]

So I'm having a thus-far civil discussion with a woman who is pretty anti-breastfeeding. She mentioned something about LLL's 'religious agenda'. I responded by basically saying she was full of it (in a civil way, of course...), but I really need to check my facts since I'm not heavily active with LLL. They have no religious affiliation/etc, right? I don't think so, but just want to double check in case this woman totally calls me on this!

[AnnR33]

No, there is no religious affiliations or advocacy at all.

[SpiderMum]

That's a new one to me....unless she's talking about it being a lactavist cult.

[marrymeflyfree]

Originally Posted by SpiderMum

That's a new one to me....unless she's talking about it being a lactavist cult.

*dingdingding* I think we have a winner!

[kriket]

I can see having to check. I had to google Alcoholics Anonymous after watching an old South Park episode. Did you know AA is SUPER religious!! I didn't either.

[amandaleigh37]

I've never heard that one before. The organization definitely has no religious affiliation... but maybe she is familiar with a local group that happens to meet in a church, or has many members of one religion, which could be possible in some areas and maybe give off that impression?

[MiamiMami]

The LLL founders all went to the smae church and named the organization after a shrine to the Virgin, but other than that they have no religious agenda.

[MamaWolfe]

I'm still stuck on the "she's anti-breastfeeding" part. That's like saying, "I'm anti food." ??? Fortunately, I've never met anyone like that! How absurd!!!

[Ruthla]

I've been a member of 2 different LLL groups (3 if you count the one I was a member of when I was an infant, but I don't remember that. )

The one in Baltimore (when DDs were babies) met in various member's homes. 2 of the three Leaders were Orthodox Jews, as were about a quarter of the members- the other 3/4 being of various faiths. The on in NY (when DS was an infant) met in a church building, but I have no clue what religion the Leader or most of the members were.

Religion sometimes came up in meetings, in an offhand way, just as it does on MDC. People asked about BFing in church/synagogue, in front of relatives at whatever holiday was coming up or had just passed, etc. There were discussions about BFIP and how it relates to religious modesty (aka: where do I find long-sleeved nursing shirts in the summer?) And during the informal parts of the meetings, we'd often chat about whatever, which sometimes includes references to religious observances.

There is absolutely nothing in LLL official materials that's religously based, or that exludes members of any religion or non-religious individuals.

[marrymeflyfree]

Originally Posted by kriket

I can see having to check. I had to google Alcoholics Anonymous after watching an old South Park episode. Did you know AA is SUPER religious!! I didn't either.

Yeah..the whole 12 step program involves a lot of spirituality/higher power stuff. Makes it tough for atheist addicts, imo. I have a friend going to Betty Ford on Friday, in fact...second time. I think the tie to religion makes it hard for him to swallow the program as he is not at all a believer.

Originally Posted by MamaWolfe

I'm still stuck on the "she's anti-breastfeeding" part. That's like saying, "I'm anti food." ??? Fortunately, I've never met anyone like that! How absurd!!!

I agree, hence my discussion with her. She keeps talking about the mental well-being of the mother and how breastfeeding is bad for moms. My guess is that she had personal issues with it, and is now bitter and defensive because she keeps seeing people promote breastfeeding. Anything at all positive said about breastfeeding seems to set her off - even small innocuous things that say nothing about bottle feeding. And she keeps citing that damn Scientific American article.

[sunflowergirll]

My husband tells me not to "evangelize" when I start going on about breastfeeding ...

[caro113]

Is she anti-breastfeeding or just anti-nursing? Does she have children? I ask because I have to admit that before my baby was born I was very against nursing. I had every intent to only feed her breast milk but there was no way in hell I was going to have a child hanging from my breast. Just. No. Way. (Seriously, I actually interviewed a MW, being 20 or so wks pregnant, telling her I wasn't doing it. She asked me why and I told her I really couldn't tell her because I really didn't know. I was just uncomfortable with the idea. Lucky for me she helped me discover those reasons and I got over it )

Maybe she saw those onesies that say "Jesus was breastfed". I wouldn't be surprised if you could buy those LLL. But that doesn't make them religious.

[marrymeflyfree]

Originally Posted by sunflowergirll

My husband tells me not to "evangelize" when I start going on about breastfeeding ...

That's a good way to put it! I try to choose my words very carefully when talking to non-BF moms...it's a fine line between encouraging BFing and making those who don't feel put down. Much as I want everyone to try BFing, I'd never want to do that..

[annethcz]

I think there are two separate things that could be at play here:

1. as a PPer stated, the founders attended church together. I know that many years ago, there was a big bruhaha about whether or not LLL should be a single-purpose organization. There were a number of people (including founders) who wanted LLL to be officially pro-life/anti-abortion. That proposal was rejected, and LLL remains a single-purpose organization. They don't take an official stance on issues unrelated to breastfeeding.

2. Many groups meet at churches. One of the groups that I led met at churches; during the time I was involved in the church our group met at 3 different churches. We investigated many other meeting place options, including community centers, schools, libraries, hospitals, a health food store, etc. Churches were the only place that offered free meeting areas for us. So while we weren't officially associated with any of the churches, it is often one of the only options for LLL groups, especially for groups that are too large to meet in homes.

[kriket]

Originally Posted by annethcz

I There were a number of people (including founders) who wanted LLL to be officially pro-life/anti-abortion.

I'm glad they didn't take this stance officially. I would see that as burning bridges for mama that need lactations support, but aren't anti-abortion. I know if LLL was openly pro-life, I probably would look elsewhere. I just don't want to get involved in 'that'. Too sticky.

[annethcz]

Originally Posted by kriket

I'm glad they didn't take this stance officially. I would see that as burning bridges for mama that need lactations support, but aren't anti-abortion. I know if LLL was openly pro-life, I probably would look elsewhere. I just don't want to get involved in 'that'. Too sticky.

I totally agree. Honestly, the conflict happened YEARS ago, long before I first became involved with LLL nearly 10 years ago, so I don't know how many people who are currently involved with the organization know about this little slice of LLL history.

[HikeMama]

I have only attended a couple LLL meetings but wished I could attend more. We talked about breastfeeding and mothering thru breastfeeding and that was about it. As pp's said, the founders were christian. But, as an atheist, I can tell you, that none of that trickles down into what LLL is all about. Some groups meet in churches (they are cheaper than meeting halls, eh?) but I don't think they have a religious agenda. Your friend just wants a good excuse to formula feed and doesn't have one, IMO.

[Tine]

OP, I'm guessing this woman has some effed-up ideas about BF being a ploy to keep women "in their place." Or something like that. One could easily turn such an idea into a "religious agenda."

[cschick]

When/Where I was growing up, LLL was strongly associated with Catholicism in my area, because most of the groups met at and were supported by Catholic Churches. For all its other faults, the Catholic Church has historically been rather pro-breastfeeding. Almost all the women I knew who breastfed through the years when breastfeeding rates were extremely low--the 1950s through the 1980s--were Catholic and one of their reasons for breastfeeding was the support of the Church.

But LLL is not a Catholic organization.

[MaryJaneLouise]

Many of the leaders in my area are Catholic, and we meet in a very nice Catholic building. But there is absolutely NO religious talk at the meeting, whatsoever.