Open Letter from Religious Leaders to Members of Congress Supporting Inclusion of Abortion Services in Health Care Reform

As a minister in the United Church of Christ, I support this important letter to Congress.

Open Letter from Religious Leaders to
Members of Congress Supporting
Inclusion of Abortion Services in Health Care Reform

Dear Members of Congress,

As religious leaders, we support public policies that are just and compassionate and prioritize the needs of those who are poor and marginalized in our society. Therefore we are opposed to attempts - many made in the name of religion and morality - to exclude abortion services from health care reform. While our reasons for supporting the inclusion of abortion services in health care are diverse, they are grounded in the teachings of our faith traditions and our commitment to social justice.

The majority of faith groups in America have affirmed that abortion is a decision of conscience that should be safeguarded by government. Further, these faith traditions affirm that health care services, including abortion, must be available to all, regardless of income. If coverage for abortion is eliminated from health care reform, the poor and communities of color will bear the consequences. Already, a low-income woman is four times as likely to have an unintended pregnancy and five times as likely to have an unintended birth as her higher income counterpart. Lack of access to abortion services perpetuates inequality and compromises the future of women, their families and their communities.

In this religiously pluralistic nation, our health care system should be inclusive and respectful of diverse religious beliefs and decisions regarding childbearing. One in three American women has an abortion by age 45, making it one of the most common medical procedures in the nation. Ignoring this truth belies the rhetoric of comprehensive, accessible health care.

A health care system that serves all persons with dignity and equality will include comprehensive reproductive health services. We call on Congress to preserve the current standard of reproductive health care and ensure that millions of uninsured and underinsured women will have access to these services. 
Thank you for your consideration.

Rev. Dr. Carlton W. Veazey [National Baptist Convention USA]
President and CEO, Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice
Washington DC

Jessica Abrahams
American Jewish Congress 
Chair
Commission on Women's Empowerment
New York NY

Louis Altman
President
Society for Humanistic Judaism
Northbrook IL

Katharine Archibald
Executive Director
American Ethical Union
New York, NY

Rev. Verne Arens*
Sr. Pastor, Little River United Church of Christ, 
Annandale VA

Rev. Darline Balm-Demmel
United Methodist Church
Cedar Falls IA

Rabbi Lia Bass
Congregation Etz Hayim
Arlington VA

Darcy Baxter
Seminarian, Unitarian Universalist
San Francisco CA

Rabbi Linda Bertenthal 
Managing Congregational Representative
Union for Reform Judaism
Encino CA

Colleen Bowers, RN 
PARO – Presbyterians Affirming Reproductive Options
Council of Governors, Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice
Baltimore MD

Rev. Dr. Rita Nakashima Brock
Director
Faith Voices for the Common Good
Oakland CA

Rev. Sandra Brown
Lutheran Women's Caucus 
Philadelphia PA

Reverend Nikolaos G. Brown
Lead Pastor And Founder
Alpha & Omega Worship Center
South River NJ

Rev. Cynthia S. Bumb
Pastor
Pilgrim Congregational United Church of Christ
St. Louis MO

Linda Lu Burciaga
President
Unitarian Universalist Women’s Federation
Boston MA

Rev. Cheryl L. Burke
Associate Conference Minister 
Michigan Conference
United Church of Christ
East Lansing MI

Rev. Steve Clapp [Church of the Brethren]
President
Christian Community, Inc.
Fort Wayne IN

Rev. Jim Conn, 
United Methodist Church, California-Pacific Conference
Pasadena CA

M. Bonnie Cousens
Executive Director
Society for Humanistic Judaism
Farmington Hills MI

Rev. Dr. Beverly Dale
General Minister & President
Christian Association at the University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia PA

Adeline deCastro
Co-Chair 
Advocacy Committee for Women’s Concerns 
Presbyterian Church (USA)
Louisville, KY

The Rev. Ann Van Dervoort
St. Paul's Episcopal Church
Franklin TN

Rev.,Dr. John R. deVelder, D.Min.,
Director, Pastoral Care Department
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital
New Brunswick NJ

Rabbi Ellen Weinberg Dreyfus
President
Central Conference of American Rabbis
Homewood IL

Rev. Dr. Terence Ellen
Executive Director
Unitarian Universalists for Social Justice of the 
Baltimore-Washington-Northern Virginia Region
Pikesville MD

Jan Eller
Administrator
Womaen's Caucus of the Church of the Brethren
Portland OR

Julie Erickson
Director of Public Policy
Presbytery of Baltimore
41 State Circle
Annapolis MD

Felicity Figueroa
Outreach Chair
Irvine United Congregational Church 
Irvine CA

Ann Goldman
Executive Director
Women's League for Conservative Judaism
New York NY

F. William Gray
Co-Chair 
Advocacy Committee for Women’s Concerns 
Presbyterian Church (USA)
Louisville, KY

The Reverend Debra W. Haffner
Executive Director
Religious Institute
Westport CT

Amy Harlib
Humanitarian Activist
New York NY

Martha Hatt
Congregational Elder 
Disciples of Christ 
Enid OK

Rev. Dr. David M. Hindman*
Director/Campus Minister 
Wesley Foundation at The College of William and Mary
Williamsburg VA

Mary E. Hunt, Ph.D.
Co-director
WATER - Women's Alliance for Theology, Ethics and Ritual 
Silver Spring MD

Rev. Dr. Martha R. Jacobs, BCC
Managing Editor, PlainViews, an e-newsletter
for chaplains and other spiritual care providers
New York NY

Rabbi Steven Jacobs
Founder, Progressive Faith Foundation
Board of Directors, Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice
Los Angeles CA

Rabbi Miriam Jerris
Society for Humanistic Judaism
Farmington Hills MI

Harvey Joyner
Pastor
First Congregational Christian United Church of Christ
Chesterfield VA

Rev. Kathryn Johnson
Executive Director
Methodist Federation for Social Action 
Washington DC

Frances Kissling
Visiting scholar 
Center for Bioethics 
University of Pennsylvania
Washington DC

Carolyn Kunin
Director
Department on Programming and Advocacy
Women of Reform Judaism
New York NY

Rev. Peter Laarman
Executive Director
Progressive Christians Uniting
Los Angeles CA

Rev. Dr. Ken Brooker Langston
Director
Disciples Justice Action Network (Disciples of Christ)
Annapolis MD

Rev. Ann Larson
Pastor 
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Essex Junction, VT

Deborah M. Lauter 
Director Civil Rights 
Anti-Defamation League
Washington DC

Rev. Dr. Bill Levering 
Senior Pastor
First Reformed Church
Schenectady NY

Rabbi David C. Levy* 
Temple Shalom
Succasunna NJ

Shelley Lindauer
Executive Director
Women of Reform Judaism
New York NY

H. Scott Matheney
Chaplain and Dean of Religious Life 
Elmhurst College 
Chicago IL

Rev. Timothy McDonald, III
First Iconium Baptist Church
Atlanta GA

Rev. Deborah Mero
Unitarian Universalist Minister
Co-Convener Religious Leadership Council
Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice
West Chester PA

Ms. Valerie A. Metzler
"Messenger" representative
Sunday School teacher and Choir member
28th Street Church of the Brethren 
Altoona PA

The Rev. Suzanne Meyer
Minister 
Unitarian Church 
Cheyenne WY

Rev Barbara Eaton Molfese
RCRC Religious Leadership Council
Lafayette CO

Rev. Peter Morales
President
Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations
Boston MA

Rabbi Shoshana Nyer
Associate Rabbi/Educator
Temple B'nai Shalom
Woman's Rabbinic Network Representative to the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice
Council of Governors
Fairfax Station VA,

Jon O'Brien
President
Catholics for Choice 
Washington DC

Rev. Aaron R. Payson
Unitarian Universalist Minister 
Board of Directors, Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice
Worcester MA

Dr. Alton B. Pollard, III
Dean
Howard University School of Divinity*
Washington DC

Rev. Lois Powell
Justice & Witness Ministries
United Church of Christ
Cleveland OH

The Rev. Don Prange
St. James United Church of Christ
Lovettsville VA

Donna Quinn
Co-Director
National Coalition of American Nuns
Chicago, IL

The Very Reverend Dr. Katherine Hancock Ragsdale
President and Dean 
Episcopal Divinity School 
Cambridge MA

Nancy Ratzan 
President
National Council of Jewish Women 
Miami FL

Jerri Rodewald 
Co-Chair 
Advocacy Committee for Women’s Concerns 
Presbyterian Church (USA)
Louisville, KY

Rev. Dr. Pete Sabey, MFT
Principal Therapist
Interfaith Counseling Service, Davis and Claremont
Claremont CA

Christine Sacino, Esq.
Catholic and Masters in Theological Studies student 
Jesuit School of Theology 
Berkeley CA

Rabbi Julie Schonfeld
Executive Vice President
The Rabbinical Assembly
New York NY

Rosanne M. Selfon
President
Women of Reform Judaism 
New York NY

David A. Smith
Professor of Sociology
University of California, Irvine
Irvine United Congregational Church
Chair, Advocates for Peace and Justice Ministry 
Irvine CA

Rev. John H. Thomas
General Minister and President
United Church of Christ
Cleveland OH

Rev. Pamala Thomas
Reverend and Transpersonal Counselor - Gateway to Light
Santa Monica CA

Loribeth Weinstein
Executive Director
Jewish Women International 
Washington DC

Ms Tena Willemsma
Evangelical Lutheran Church of America 
Winchester VA

Mary Jo Wittry
President
American Ethical Union
New York, NY

Nancy Hunt Wirth 
President
Disciples for Choice
Tulsa OK

Rabbi Jeffrey A. Wohlberg
President
The Rabbinical Assembly
New York NY

Rabbi Shawn Zevit
Director of Outreach and Tikkun Olam
Congregational Consultant
Jewish Reconstructionist Federation
Jenkintown PA

*for identification purposes only