RCRC Statement on Supreme Court Decision Striking Down Anti-Abortion Louisiana Law

SPIRITUAL LEADERS AND PEOPLE OF FAITH HERALD DECISION BY SUPREME COURT STRIKING DOWN LOUISIANA LAW DESIGNED TO TAKE AWAY ACCESS TO ABORTION

RCRC emphasizes that God loves people who seek abortion and that our faith compels us to eliminate barriers to safe, affordable care – the fight continues, but today we celebrate!

(Washington, D.C.) – Statement by the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice (RCRC) on the decision in the case of June Medical Services v. Russo:

“The Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice (RCRC) has been working for decades to make it clear that a majority of people of faith support reproductive freedom, including the right to abortion, because of our faith values – not in spite of them.  We have fought against abortion restrictions like the Louisiana law that was just struck down by the United States Supreme Court because we believe that every person should be able to make moral decisions about their bodies, lives, and futures, and have the freedom to plan and build their families as they see fit.

The decisions we make about our bodies are profound and the decisions we make about family planning, pregnancy, and abortion are sacred. Our shared call as people of faith is to support people with compassion as they navigate these decisions, not to judge them or to dictate what is best for them.

We condemn the political agenda that, for decades, has targeted abortion access as one of many strategies to inflict control and harm on Black, Indigenous, and people of color. We are clear that this agenda is rooted in white Christian nationalism. We also condemn lawmakers who have the audacity to distort sacred texts and claim “religious liberty” when their intent is to uphold white supremacist, Christian nationalist, and patriarchal systems of oppression. That is what is happening when legislators in Louisiana or in Congress push policies to stigmatize abortion or withhold the ability to get safe, affordable care.

While these legislators claim to represent all their constituents, their policies on abortion do not. Not all people of faith think alike on these issues. The fact is that people from all faith traditions seek abortion care. RCRC represents various faith traditions, including Protestant, Catholic, Jewish, and Unitarian communities, and offers spiritual support as people make choices about their futures with the support of loved ones and in keeping with their beliefs and traditions.

We believe that God loves people who provide abortion care and people who seek abortion care. As conservative politicians continue to try to take away all access to abortion, we will watch our rights debated in courts time and again. We will make it clear that we will not be silent in the face of these relentless attacks. We will condemn and work to dismantle white supremacy, patriarchy, and other systems of oppression.

We will show compassion to people as they make decisions about their lives and we will work to ensure that people have access to a full range of safe and affordable reproductive health services.

At RCRC, we commit to the fight to eliminate barriers to the services people need whether they are trying to have a healthy pregnancy or if they need to end a pregnancy. We will continue to work to ensure that every person gets the chance to make their own decisions about their bodies, their families, and their futures. We will work for a world in which every person thrives and flourishes. We believe that is what it looks like to live up to our values and our commitment to seek justice, and to lead with love!”

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The Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice is a national community of religious organizations and faithful individuals dedicated to achieving reproductive health, rights, and justice. Through education, organizing, and advocacy, we seek to elevate religious voices wherever faith, policy, and our reproductive lives intersect.