45 Religious Orgs Back 'Universal Access To Contraception'

[DonViejo]

SAHIL KAPUR – MARCH 18, 2014, 9:39 AM EDT

Forty-five nationally known religious organizations want the Supreme Court to uphold Obamacare's requirement that employer insurance plans cover birth control without co-pays, calling it a "moral good."

"As religious leaders, we support universal access to contraception," leaders of the groups said in a joint statement Monday. "We believe that all persons should be free to make personal decisions about their reproductive lives, their health and the health of their families that are informed by their culture, faith tradition, religious beliefs, conscience, and community."

The statement alludes to Supreme Court oral arguments scheduled next week on two cases about the validity of the birth control mandate. Various Catholic leaders and business owners have rebelled and want to see the requirement struck down.

"No single religious voice can speak for all faith traditions on contraception, nor should government take sides on religious differences," they said. "We call on our government to respect the beliefs and values of everyone’s faith by safeguarding equal access to contraception for those whose conscience leads them to use it."

The religious leaders who signed the statement are: Rev. Geoffrey A. Black (United Church of Christ), the Rev. Wes Granberg-Michaelson (Reformed Church in America), the Rev. Peter Morales (Unitarian Universalist Association), the Rev. Dr. Yvette A. Flunder (The Fellowship of Affirming Ministries) and the Reverend Nancy Wilson, (Metropolitan Community Churches); 5 seminary presidents including the Rev. Dr. Nick Carter (Andover Newton Theological School), Dr. Alton B. Pollard (Howard University School of Divinity) the Rev. Dr. Serene Jones (Union Theological Seminary), the Very Rev. Katherine Ragsdale (Episcopal Divinity School) and the Rev. Dr. Emilie Townes (Vanderbilt Divinity School; and the heads of more than thirty national religious organizations, including the Interfaith Alliance (the Rev. Dr. C. Welton Gaddy), the New Evangelical Partnership for the Common Good (the Rev. Richard Cizik), Women of Reform Judaism (Rabbi Marla Feldman), the Beatitudes Society (the Rev. Anne Howard), Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice (the Rev. Harry Knox), Catholics for Choice (Jon O’Brien), the National Council of Jewish Women (Nancy K. Kaufman) and Muslims for Progressive Values (Ani Zonneveld).

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http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/religious-leaders-universal-access-to-contraception

[cbayer]

1. Excellent! I am so glad to see liberal/progressive religious leaders building these

kinds of coalitions and countering the ugliness coming front he religious right.

And very glad that TPM has taken the opportunity to write about it.

The sad part is that it will probably get very little coverage elsewhere. Just not sexy enough.

[hrmjustin]

2. Glad to see it.

[longship]

3. This is how progressive religion can make a big difference.

They should also get this word out to the public. However, I don't know if the media wants to have that dialog.

I applaud these orgs for their activism. We need more of this.

[pinto]

4. +45. This is good to see.

Solidly stated, although not as catchy as the right's "religious freedom" ploy.

[trotsky]

5. "nor should government take sides on religious differences"

But that's exactly what the groups opposed to contraceptive coverage would say too.

[freshwest]

6. Good stuff. n't

[edhopper]

7. Very welcome

Hopefully Kennedy will take notice.