HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Disciples For Choice (DFC) wishes a Happy Holidays to all Disciples, all Christians, and all people of faith as we celebrate this holy season of light and peace. May the lights of freedom continue to burn brightly as we work together to dispel the darkness of oppression, fear and ignorance.

Please consider a end-of-the-year gift to DFC's major partners in the pro-faith, pro-family, pro-choice movement: the Disciples Justice Action Network and the Religious Coalition for Religious Choice.

To make an online contribution to the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice (RCRC),
PLEASE CLICK HERE.

To make an online contribution to the Disciples Justice Action Network (DJAN),
PLEASE CLICK HERE.

Together let us keep the lights of freedom burning brightly. Happy Holidays!

The Medical Right Threatens Reproductive Freedom

The smallest possible handful of extremist medical organizations is tenaciously attempting to deny reproductive rights based on radical medical opinion. These “medical” organizations want to determine your health care rights, based on their interpretation of Scripture. We call this group the “Medical Right” and their aggressive campaign against reproductive freedom is both fanatical and dangerous.

To read the full report on this growing danger,
PLEASE CLICK HERE.

Faithful Struggle for Reproductive Freedom

"Faithful Struggle for Reproductive Freedom" is a video on the Clergy Consultation Service on Abortion compiled from excerpts of Dorothy Fadiman's documentary From Danger to Dignity, with an introduction by Reverend Carlton W. Veazey, President of the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice.

To watch the video, PLEASE CLICK HERE.

To order a copy of this video to show to you community or school group or congregation, please call 202-628-7700 or e-mail RCRC at info@rcrc.org.

To download a discussion guide for this video,
PLEASE CLICK HERE.

To learn more about the Clergy Consultation Service on Abortion,
PLEASE CLICK HERE.

Catholic Hospitals to Follow Plan B Law

HARTFORD, Conn. - Roman Catholic bishops in Connecticut have agreed to let hospital personnel give emergency contraception to all rape victims, reversing their decision days before a new state law requires it....

Church officials had said the treatment was tantamount to abortion and had been considering legal action, but they took a step away from that position Thursday, in a joint statement by the Catholic Bishops of Connecticut and leaders of the Catholic hospitals....

To read more, PLEASE CLICK HERE.

Verizon Reverses Itself on Abortion Messages

Reversing course, Verizon Wireless announced yesterday that it would allow an abortion rights group to send text messages to its supporters on Verizon’s mobile network....

Last week, Verizon rejected a request from the abortion rights group, Naral Pro-Choice America, for a five-digit “short code.” Such codes allow people interested in hearing from businesses, politicians and advocacy groups to sign up to receive text messages....

“The decision to not allow text messaging on an important, though sensitive, public policy issue was incorrect,” said Jeffrey Nelson, a spokesman for Verizon, in a statement issued yesterday morning, adding that the earlier decision was an “isolated incident.”

To read more, PLEASE CLICK HERE.

Philadelphia Court Defends Right to Dispense EC without Parental Notification

Feminist Daily News Wire
September 27, 2007

On Friday in Philadelphia, the 3rd US Circuit Court of Appeals ruled unanimously that a city health clinic did not violate the rights of a 16-year-old girl by giving her the emergency contraception she requested, or the rights of her parents by not notifying them....

"The Constitution does not impose an affirmative obligation on [the] defendants to ensure that children abide by their parents’ wishes, values or religious beliefs," states the ruling, adding that her parents "failed to plead facts that would establish that the Center inserted itself into Melissa’s decision by preventing Melissa from consulting her parents."

To read more, PLEASE CLICK HERE.

Three GA07 Resolutions of Special Interest to DFC

At the 2008 General Assembly of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) meeting in Fort Worth, TX, there were three resolutions of particular concern to Disciples for Choice.

The first, Resolution 0730, was an item for reflection and research entitled Concerning the Ethical Provision of Health Care in a Religiously Pluralistic Society. This resolution seeks to deal constructively with the "increasing trend among health care institutions and individual health care providers not merely to arrive at their own particular decisions and set of values, but further to act in ways which impose these decisions and values upon others, thereby manifesting a lack of respect for the free exercise of conscience by patients and constricting the health services made available to the general public." In response this situation, Resolution 0730 calls upon the church to affirm "the healing ministry of Jesus Christ" within the context of "the First Amendment protection of freedom of religion and the democratic values that unite our citizens," and to "accept for reflection and research The Provision of Health Care in a Pluralistic Society, a document produced for study in communities of faith by the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice.

The second, Resolution 0725, was a sense-of-the-assembly resolution on abortion. Entitled "Proactive Prevention: Seeking Common Ground on the Issue of Abortion," the resolution called upon all manifestations of the church to, among other things, repent of "the sin of vilifying" people based on their views on reproductive choice, engage in "age appropriate health and sexuality education paired with Christian spirituality for adults and youth," support women "who have had abortions or who face difficult decisions regarding pregnancy," advocate "for pregnancy counseling and adequate health care for women and families," and work to provide "affordable daycare facilities in underserved neighborhoods, college campuses and other areas where children and families, have the greatest need."


The third resolution of interest to DFC was Resolution 0724, a sense-of-the-assembly resolution on children's health care. This resolution called upon our congregations, regions, general units, and constituency groups to (1) “address issues of children's health care, Biblically and theologically,” (2) “educate themselves, their communities and their elected officials on children's health care nationally and locally,” and (3) “advocate for immediate action to ensure health and mental health care for every child in America in 2007 as a first step to adequate health care for all."

DFC supported this resolution for two reasons: First, the strong belief that "adequate health care for all" should include reproductive health care and therefore would potentially enhance the possibilities that adequate reproductive health care would become more universally available; and second, a better health care system for our children would help create a situation in which more options are available to women--especially poor women--when making informed decisions about possibly terminating a pregnancy."

To read these and all GA07 resolutions, PLEASE CLICK HERE.

Breaking the Silence on Sexuality in our Churches

At a time when rifts over sexuality issues are widening, the National Black Religious Summit on Sexuality is bringing together African American, Latino, and Gay and Lesbian Christian leaders to build inclusive congregations. I invite all RCRC supporters to attend this Summit--a spiritual, emotional and intellectual experience that increases understanding, acceptance, and love of all God's children.

The 11th annual National Summit will meet July 11-13 at Howard University School of Divinity in Washington, DC. More than 500 adults, many of them pastors and religious educators, and 200 youth are expected to attend the event, the largest gathering of African American and Latino church leaders and members to address sexuality issues from a religious and spiritual perspective.

PLEASE CLICK HERE to download registration forms.

Reverend Carlton W. Veazey
President and CEO
Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice

RCRC Releases Guidelines for Ethical Health Care

Disciples For Choice has endorsed In Good Conscience: Guidelines for the Ethical Provision of Health Care in a Pluralistic Society, a document produced by the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice (see below). These guidelines are the basis of a resolution that will be presented to the upcoming General Assembly as a proposed study document.

The Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice (RCRC) released new ethical guidelines on providing healthcare in America. The guidelines, entitled In Good Conscience: Guidelines for the Ethical Provision of Health Care in a Pluralistic Society, seek to strike a balance between the beliefs and rights of providers and the beliefs and rights of patients. Alarmed by the increasing imposition of sectarian religious beliefs on health care access-especially access to reproductive health and humane end-of-life care-for millions of Americans, the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, representing mainstream denominations and faith traditions, is calling for all health care providers to implement the new guidelines. . . .

The new guidelines provide an alternative to sectarian restrictions imposed on health care, such as the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, among others. As an increasing number of health care institutions fall under the control of religious organizations that restrict services based on their own religious beliefs, guidance is needed for providers and patients. For example, all Catholic hospitals, where 1 in 5 Americans receive their care, refuse to provide a range of reproductive and end-of-life service. The implications for patients are enormous: they are denied treatment or medication even when it is legal and they can pay for it. There are also implications for the doctors and nurses at such hospitals.

Individual doctors, pharmacists, and nurses are also exercising a "religious or moral objection," refusing to provide essential services and often leaving patients without other options. . . .

To read the rest of this press release, PLEASE CLICK HERE.

For more information about the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice,
PLEASE CLICK HERE.

For more information about Disciples For Choice,
PLEASE CLICK HERE and HERE.

To read a resolution by the General Assembly of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) affirming the decision-making capacity and rights of women in matters of reproductive health care, PLEASE CLICK HERE.

Supreme Court Decision A Serious Setback for Women's Health

Statement of Rev. Carlton W. Veazey,
President and CEO of the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice.


Today's Supreme Court decision is a serious setback for women's health and for a woman's ability to follow her conscience in medical decisions. As well, it is a blow to the basic responsibility of medical professionals to inform patients of all medical options.

While there is no question of our commitment to the value of all human life, we are alarmed that the Court has taken a step toward valuing a potential person over the woman whose life may be at risk.

The Roberts Court has, as feared, begun to move away from the respect for women's health and well-being that has characterized previous abortion decisions.

This decision moves us closer to the time when sectarian religious viewpoints will govern medical decisions for all Americans, whether they share those viewpoints or not.

In 2003, the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice Board of Directors opposed this legislation because support for it has been built by deception and fear, because it is so broad that it will unlawfully interfere with access to abortion generally, and because it lacks the morally, as well as legally, required health exception. While the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice does not advocate for abortion or or take positions on specific abortion procedures, we do advocate for women's right to make medical decisions according to their faith and conscience as well as with factual, compassionate medical advice.

We will continue to work for women's right to make the medical decisions they deem best as well as for reducing the need for abortion through family planning and sexuality education.

RCRC on CNN - Monday Night!

Tune in Monday, April 9, at 11 pm

Rev. Rebecca Turner, the executive director of the Missouri Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, will appear on Anderson Cooper 360° on CNN on Monday, April 5, at 11:00pm EDT. The show will examine what it means to be a Christian, including questions of science, sex, and salvation. Rev. Turner will be discussing the existence of so-called "post-abortion syndrome."

Disciples for Choice is a member of the Missouri Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice and also the national Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice. We encourage you to tune in!

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY EVENT

Religious Leaders Urge Expanded International Family Planning Assistance as a Cornerstone of U.S. Foreign Aid

Washington, DC—-Christian and Jewish religious leaders came together today, on International Women’s Day, to urge Congress and the President to expand funding for international family planning as a cornerstone of U.S. foreign assistance.

They advised government policymakers that aid for family planning would demonstrate “America’s compassion and moral principles by helping the most impoverished women and their families survive and thrive.”

The leaders held a briefing on Capitol Hill sponsored by Representative Betty McCollum (D-MN) and the Religious Advocates Working Group to urge Members of Congress to co-sponsor the “Focus on Family Health Worldwide Act of 2007” (HR 1225), a bipartisan, pro-choice/pro-life measure.

To read more about this, PLEASE CLICK HERE.

SPECIAL ROE V. WADE ANNIVERSARY MESSAGE

CLICK HERE to hear a special Roe v. Wade Anniversary Message from Rev. Carlton Veazey, President and CEO of the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice.

RCRC Special Report: New Congress Convenes

From Rev. Carlton Veazey, RCRC President and CEO:

With the start of the 110th Congress, the outlook for preserving reproductive rights and religious liberty is brighter than at any time in recent years. On the first day of the new session, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) introduced the Prevention First Act, S. 21, a package of legislation that seeks to reduce unintended pregnancy and increase access to contraception. The House of Representatives passed the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2007 as part of their "First 100 Hours" agenda.

While this is a good start to the next two years, we still must make our voices heard and insist that our legislators support access to safe and legal reproductive health care services for women and men. Our message must be clear: Americans will not allow any one religious viewpoint to trump scientific and medical evidence about issues such as sexuality education, access to emergency contraception, and HIV-AIDS prevention.

Please stand with me and send a "Citizen of Conscience" declaration to your Senators and Representative. To say you expect your elected representatives to respect the beliefs of all Americans, PLEASE CLICK HERE.
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Prevention First Introduced on First Day of New Congress

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has introduced the Prevention First Act, S. 21, a package of legislation that seeks to reduce unintended pregnancy and increase access to contraception. RCRC asks all our supporters to contact their U.S. Senators and ask them to become co-sponsors of this bill. Bipartisan support is crucial so please make a special effort to contact your Republican senators.
Elements of the bill include:

Increasing funding for the national family planning program.

Expanding Medicaid family planning services by requiring states to extend coverage for family planning services to women who would be entitled to Medicaid- funded care if they became pregnant.

Ending insurance discrimination against women by requiring private health plans to cover prescription contraceptives to the same extent that they cover other prescription drugs.

Improving awareness about emergency contraception with public education initiatives about EC to both women and medical providers.

Providing compassionate assistance for rape victims by requiring hospitals that receive federal funds to promptly provide EC upon patient request.

Reducing teen pregnancy by funding grants to public and private entities to establish or expand teen pregnancy prevention programs and for comprehensive sexuality education.

Ensuring that all federally-funded abstinence, family life, comprehensive health or character education programs provide medically accurate information about the use of contraception including health benefits and failure rates.

Providing funding for comprehensive sexuality education that is science-based, medically accurate, and age-appropriate.

This is legislation all Members of Congress - regardless of party affiliation or position on abortion - should be willing to support.

PLEASE CLICK HERE to ask your Senators to co-sponsor this common-sense bill.

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House Passes Stem Cell Bill

Today, by a vote of 253-174, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2007, as part of their "First 100 Hours" agenda. The bill, which was co-sponsored by 216 House Members, would expand federal funding for human embryonic stem cell research and allow funding for research using stem cells derived from embryos originally created for fertility treatments and willingly donated by patients. President Bush vetoed an identical bill in July 2006, despite the enormous potential for finding life-saving treatments for Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, brain injury, stroke, heart disease, burns, and spinal cord injuries.

To learn more about stem cell research, PLEASE CLICK HERE.

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Religious Diversity Is Hallmark of New Congress

For the first time, the members of Congress include a Muslim, Keith Ellison of Minnesota, and two Buddhists, Mazie Hirono of Hawaii and Hank Johnson of Georgia. In an affirmation of religious pluralism, Ellison took part in the Congressional worship service held on the opening day of the 110th Congress, reading a short passage from the Koran.
Roman Catholics remain the largest single faith group in Congress, followed by Baptists, Methodists, Presbyterians, Jews, and Episcopalians, according to researcher Albert Menendez, in the newsletter of Americans for Religious Liberty. Catholics, accounting for 29% of all members of the House and Senate, are Democrats by a 2-to-1 ratio. The religious affiliation of members of Congress can be important in advocacy. RCRC supporters often contact members of their own denomination or tradition to urge them to support policies that reflect religious values or oppose those that are contrary to their traditions.

Nancy Pelosi, a Roman Catholic, took office as Speaker of the House, the most powerful position in the legislative branch of government . She is a strong backer of abortion rights, with a 100% pro-choice voting record. Harry Reid, Senate majority leader, is a Mormon and strong backer of family planning although opposed to abortion.

To read more about this, PLEASE CLICK HERE.

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RCRC Launches Online Store

RCRC's new online store is just a click away. You will find all the materials you need to become a better activist, including resources that will help you learn more about the pro-faith, pro-choice movement and fun items such as bumper stickers, t-shirts, pins and more to display your faithful support for choice!
After you make a purchase, please consider making an additional donation to support RCRC's work. Every dollar from supporters like you helps us continue the fight for reproductive rights.

To visit RCRC's Online Store, PLEASE CLICK HERE.

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Quick Links

Keep the Faith for Choice!

Clergy for Choice

Spiritual Youth for Reproductive Freedom

Contact a State Affiliate

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email: info@rcrc.org
voice: 202-628-7700
web: http://www.rcrc.org