Michigan Pastor Apologizes for ‘Shaming’ Mother Who Breastfed in Church

A Michigan pastor apologized for telling a parishioner that breastfeeding in a public church area could inspire lustfulness in male attendees, according to a Monday report from USA Today. The woman, Amy Marchant, claimed after she exposed both breasts to feed her 1-year-old son in a public church area in June, she received a private Facebook message from a female church leader telling her that “nursing fully exposed” was making others uncomfortable, and that she would be required to cover up or do it in a more private area in the future. When she asked to meet with church leaders to discuss the issue, Marchant said, “I was told it was immodest, that it was not shaming, that [breastfeeding] can cause men to lust and stumble.” She added that “They said as long as they provided places for women to nurse, they didn’t have to allow them to nurse anywhere.” One of the church officials involved later admitted that he was not familiar enough with Michigan’s Breastfeeding Anti-Discrimination Act, which bars public institutions from denying access to a woman who is breastfeeding. The church has since announced a new policy, in which women will only be informed about private areas if they ask for them. Marchant, however, does not plan to return. “Of all the places, it is most hurtful when it comes from your own church,” she said, “that you are going to cause guys to lust after you.”