A woman has received an apology, after a pastor accused her of inspiring "lustfulness" in men.
29-year-old Mam Amy Marchant said she was shamed inside a church in mid-June for breastfeeding while she was waiting for her other children to finish Sunday school in Michigan.
She said the church leader, who remains unnamed, messaged her on Facebook when she got home from the church. She was encouraged to cover up when nursing, or to use one of three designated nursing areas in the church in future.
This shocked the Mum, who said she was shocked to feel shamed in a place where she was supposed to feel safe.
Speaking to Livingston Daily she said, “Even if I wanted to go somewhere private, that’s not reasonable when I have to watch my 4-year-old twins, and legally speaking, it’s not something she is allowed to ask".
Marchant stood up for herself, reportedly telling the woman that contacted her that she is not responsible for her feelings.
She then requested a meeting with church leaders to highlight the 2014 Michigan state Breastfeeding Anti-Discrimination Act, which prohibits any type of discrimination being shown to women who breastfeed in public.
Lead pastor Ben Walls Sr. then apologised, saying:
"We are not against anyone breastfeeding anywhere in the church. That is not what the problem was. Both breasts were totally exposed… From their perspective, it’s natural, we know, but we felt it inappropriate for boys and men, and we weren’t trying to shame, we were trying to deal with others who were uncomfortable and how they felt. Hurt, embarrassment, and shame was not intended.”
