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Religious Community Supports Rescission Proposal


April 8, 2009
Charles Johnson
Acting Secretary
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Hubert H. Humphrey Building
Room 716G
200 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20201

Dear Acting Secretary Johnson:
As representatives of religious and religiously affiliated organizations, we write to express our strong support for the administration’s proposed rule to rescind the December 19, 2008 final rule entitled "Ensuring That Department of Health and Human Services Funds Do Not Support Coercive or Discriminatory Policies or Practices in Violation of Federal Law."

The rescission of this so-called conscience rule is critical to protect women’s access to vital health care services. Unless this rule is repealed, millions of American women may lose access to basic reproductive health care, including several forms of birth control and non-directive counseling for pregnant women. Furthermore, this rule goes much farther than the laws it claims to implement, creating confusion and placing an unnecessary burden on patients and providers. We strongly urge the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to put the health of women and families first by completely eliminating this dangerous regulation.

Reproductive health is an integral part of basic health care for women. Virtually all American women— 98 percent—use a contraceptive at some point in their lives. And the vast majority of Americans— including people of faith—support universal access to birth control and accurate contraceptive information. The refusal regulation imposes dangerous obstacles to women’s access to reproductive health care and inaccurately does so in the name of religious liberty. We strongly support the accommodation of employees’ religious beliefs in the workplace, but a woman, regardless of her income, age, religion, race, or geographic location must have access to the health care services she needs, including the full range of contraceptive options and information.

Our faiths motivate us to speak out for comprehensive health care, including reproductive health care, for women, children, and families around our country – many of whom are part of our faith communities. To deny women basic reproductive health care, including access to contraception and non-directive pregnancy counseling, is to jeopardize their well-being. Please rescind this harmful rule in its entirety.

Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
American Jewish Committee
Anti-Defamation League
Catholics for Choice
Disciples for Choice
Disciples Justice Action Network
Equal Partners in Faith
Hadassah, the Women's Zionist Organization of America
The Jewish Council for Public Affairs
Jewish Reconstructionist Federation
National Council of Jewish Women
Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice
Union for Reform Judaism
Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations
United Church of Christ
United Methodist Church, General Board of Church & Society
Women of Reform Judaism