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

DFC Supports Stem Cell Research Bill

Disciples For Choice joined with hundreds of other religious organizations, patient advocacy groups, health organizations, research universities, scientific societies, and other interested institutions and associations, to urge members of Congress to support the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act.

In a letter to all incoming members of the US House and Senate, DFC and theother groups (together representing millions of patients, scientists, health care providers, people of faith and health care advocates) urged expedited passage and enactment of this "pro-patient and pro-research" legislation when the bill comes before each chamber in the 110th Congress.

The letter signed by DFC reminds legislatures again about the importance of stem cell research: its "promise for expanding medical breakthroughs" and "the hope [it provides] millions of patients and their loved ones."

To read the letter supporting the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act, PLEASE CLICK HERE.

RCRC Holiday Report

IN THIS ISSUE:

· Hopes for a New Year
· Prevention - A Top Priority
· Deceptive Anti-Choice Bill Fails in House
· Moral Issues Shift in Last Election
· Minnesota RCRC Gains New Partner


From Rev. Carlton Veazey, RCRC President and CEO:

At this season of light and peace, all of us at the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice thank you for working with us in the struggle for justice. Your moral and financial support and your thoughts and prayers give us strength as we move forward to realize our hopes for women's lives and strong families.

So much has been accomplished with your support. We have expanded successful programs with African American and Latino churches, Clergy for Choice, Seminarians for Choice, and students and young adults. We launched our new curriculum in Pastoral Care and Reproductive Loss. We have begun our "Faith and Action" program with Ohio and Minnesota congregations and we started our first Clergy Leadership Institute for Reproductive Justice. Our Call to Justice campaign mobilized to make emergency contraception available in pharmacies and uphold abortion rights for the women of South Dakota.

As the year ends, join me in reflecting on our many blessings. We know the New Year will bring new challenges, but together we will become an even stronger voice of hope in a struggling world. May you and your loved ones have a happy, healthy, and blessed holiday! Thank you for keeping the faith for choice!

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Prevention - A Top Priority

One of the top priorities of many RCRC groups and supporters for the new Congress is legislation to prevent unintended pregnancy and create a comprehensive, medically accurate sexuality education program for use in schools across the country. Although pro-choice lawmakers are in the minority in both the House and Senate, the pro-choice and pro- family planning leadership have given every indication that they will promote commonsense, common ground legislation in these issue areas. Religious groups in the Coalition have supported Prevention First legislation to increase funding for family planning and emergency contraception and insurance coverage for contraception since it was introduced in 2004 and will continue to do so. Religious groups are also solidly behind medically accurate, comprehensive sexuality education. Considering the high rate of unintended pregnancy and especially unintended teen pregnancy, Americans should demand that both pro-choice and anti-choice members of Congress support these measures.

To read more about "Prevention First," PLEASE CLICK HERE.

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Deceptive Anti-Choice Bill Fails in House

In a last-minute effort to pass anti-choice legislation, the lame-duck House of Representatives fast-tracked the "Unborn Child Pain Awareness Act" bill in the final hours of the 109th Congress. Because of the expedited procedure, the bill's sponsors needed - yet failed to receive - a two-thirds majority to pass the bill. The final vote was 250 in favor (210 Republicans, 40 Democrats) and 162 against (9 Republicans, 152 Democrats and 1 independent), with 20 members not voting.
The bill would have forced physicians to give women seeking an abortion at 20 weeks or more an inflammatory, unfactual brochure written by anti- abortion legislators, not physicians, and offer them anesthesia for their fetus. RCRC viewed the legislation as a thinly disguised attempt to intimidate women and as inappropriate interference by Congress in private medical decisions. RCRC thanks Congresswoman Lois Capps, Congressman Henry Waxman and Congressman Frank Pallone for leading opposition to this bill. It was a difficult issue for many Members, who are concerned about the possibility that a fetus might feel pain in an abortion but also concerned about the coercive and deceptive nature of the script and the bill itself.

To see how your Representative voted, PLEASE CLICK HERE.

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Moral Issues Shift in Last Election

An exit poll about the religious vote reveals more interesting information to dispel inaccurate notions about "moral values." The poll, by Zogby International for two progressive faith-based groups, Faith in Public Life and Catholics in Alliance for the Common Ground, showed that moral concerns about poverty and the war in Iraq drove the religious vote more than abortion and same-sex marriage. The results signal a shift among religious voters from hot-button issues to broader concerns such as economic justice and integrity in government, according to Religion News Service. More than 45% of those polled said the war in Iraq was the moral issue that most influenced their vote, an increase of four percentage points. As a voting issue, abortion declined by five points, with just under 8% citing it as a motivating factor. The drop on abortion was most significant among Protestants, down 10 points to 14.4%.

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Minnesota RCRC Gains New Partner

The United Methodist Church's top court, the 9- member Judicial Council, has ruled that the Minnesota Conference can officially join the Minnesota Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice even if there is some disagreement over positions. RCRC is pleased to welcome another UMC partner. Our position is, as it has been for 33 years, that member groups agree that reproductive choice should be legal and that reproductive choice is an element of religious freedom. Other than that, member groups hold many different views on abortion.

To learn more about RCRC affiliates, 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

==========================

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

DFC Congratulates New Speaker of the House

Joining with other organizations associated with the Religious Advocacy Working Group (RAWG), Disciples For Choice sent a letter to incoming Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi. The letter congratulated her on her new position, thanked her for her strong support for reproductive freedom and justice, and invited her to dialogue with faith-based organizations working on issues related to quality, freedom and justice in diverse areas of reproductive health care.

To read the letter, PLEASE CLICK HERE.

DFC Expresses Concern Over Bush Appointment to DASPA

There has been an outpouring of concern over the appointment by President Bush of Dr. Eric Keroack as the new Deputy Assistant Secretary for Population Affiars (DASPA). DASPA oversees Title X, the nation's family planning program, which provides high-quality health care services to over five million low-income individuals annually, helping them to avoid approximately onemillion unintended pregnancies each year.

Dr. Keroack's public statements, writings, and professional associations demonstrate his opposition to contraception and nondirective health care. His positions are antithetical to the goals of the Title X program, are not based on sound science, and could jeopardize the health of millions of American women. For this reason, Disciples For Choice joined with over 50 other organizations to protest this appointment by sending a letter to Michael Leavitt, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, expressing our concerns.

To read the letter, PLEASE CLICK HERE.

DFC Salutes South Dakota Voters!

South Dakota voters rejected the most restrictive abortion ban in the nation on Election Day. The move to criminalize abortion suffered a severe blow in one of the most conservative of the United States. Perhaps this historic test of public sentiment shows that moderation, compassion, responsible and factual campaigning can and will reach the faithful, giving them the power and the ability to stand up for what is right.

Disciples For Choice and the Disciples Justice Action Network salute the South Dakota Pastors for Moral Choices, the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, and all those within faith communities across the country who worked on behalf of this effort.

To read more about Pastors for Moral Choices,
PLEASE CLICK HERE.

To read more about the South Dakota vote against the abortion band,
PLEASE CLICK HERE.

To view the South Dakota ad from the pro-choice faith community,
PLEASE CLICK HERE.