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November 16, 2009

Religious Leaders and First Amendment Advocates Call on Senate to Ensure Full Access to Reproductive Health Services in Health Care Reform

Washington, DC - Heads of Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, interfaith and First Amendment organizations today called on the Senate to ensure the final health care reform bill respects diverse religious beliefs.

“It is now up to the Senate to keep health care reform free of religious doctrine and restrictions that will prevent women from making their own reproductive health care choices,” said Reverend Dr. Carlton W. Veazey, President and CEO of the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice (RCRC), which convened today’s news conference.
RCRC includes more than 40 denominations and religious organizations that respect diverse religious beliefs and individual decisions about whether and when to have children. The participating organizations together represent more than 10,000 religious leaders and millions of people of faith who believe that abortion must be safe, legal and accessible.

“We speak as people of faith who support religious freedom and reproductive options,” said Reverend Veazey. “Women must not lose access to abortion services they may need because of a small but vocal group of anti-choice activists.”

Speakers included Linda Bales Todd of the General Board of Church and Society of the United Methodist Church; Sammie Moshenberg, Director of the Washington Office of the National Council of Jewish Women; Jon O’Brien, President of Catholics for Choice; Sandra Sorensen, Director of the Washington Office of the United Church of Christ Justice and Witness Ministries, and Reverend Barry W. Lynn, Executive Director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State.

Data from a public opinion poll of registered voters done by the Mellman Group for the Women Donors Network and Communications Consortium Media Center in late August was released. They showed significant support across religions for the more moderate Capps Amendment to maintain the status quo.

“There should be no Stupak-Pitts language in the Senate or conference committee health care bills,” Reverend Veazey said. “Health care reform is about expanding access to health care for all, not rolling back women’s access to needed health services.”
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Individual Statements:

Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice

General Board of Church and Society, United Methodist Church

United Church of Christ, Justice and Witness Ministries

National Council of Jewish Women

Catholics for Choice

Americans United for Separation of Church and State

No Ideology in Health Care: Statement of Reverend Dr. Carlton W. Veazey on House Passage of Stupak Amendment

November 2, 2009
While we want health care reform, we are disturbed that the cost of passing this legislation in the House of Representatives was greater limitations on access to abortion. Just as appalling as the exemption of this one medical service was the role of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in assuring that their will be done. The bishops made clear, through intense lobbying, that they would oppose health care reform that did not specifically include their religious ideology.

Major Christian and Jewish denominations and millions of Americans disagree with this position and support a woman's right to make her own reproductive health decisions. This action by the House is an unacceptable denial of our constitutional right to live according to our own moral beliefs. As Congresswoman Barbara Lee noted in floor debate on the legislation, "We're a democracy, not a theocracy."

Those who support access to all reproductive health services want health care reform. We feel keenly our moral responsibility to ensure the medical resources necessary for the health of all children, families and communities. But this cannot be done without respect for our nation's religious diversity. We call on the Senate to ensure that health care reform is freed of religious ideology and restrictions that will prevent women from making their own reproductive health care choices.

Religious Leaders' Statement on Health Reform: We support "a health care system that is inclusive and respectful of diverse religious beliefs and decisions" regarding childbearing.