Religious Leaders Support Contraception Coverage Under Affordable Care Act; Catholic Bishops’ Claims Rejected

More than 200 religious leaders from major denominations have affirmed the value of birth control as morally good for both individuals and society, rejecting the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ claim that “religious freedom” is being compromised by the Affordable Care Act coverage of contraception.

The leaders endorsed a statement by the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice (RCRC) released today as the Catholic bishops’ “Fortnight for Freedom” protests against contraception drew to a close.

“To preserve both fairness and religious freedom, institutions that employ and serve the general public should not be allowed to discriminate for religious reasons,” the RCRC statement says.

Despite the Supreme Court decision upholding the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act, 43 lawsuits filed by Roman Catholic agencies remain to be heard by the courts. The RCRC statement  – signed by  Protestant, Catholic, Jewish, and Unitarian Universalist leaders  - says that contraception is a “matter of individual conscience. Individuals—not employers—should be responsible for making choices about birth control.”

The statement, “On Birth Control, Religious Freedom, and Conscience,” calls for “public policies that protect each person's ability to access and use birth control according to their own conscience and religious beliefs.”

Leaders in the religious community* who endorsed the statement include Rev. Peter Morales, President of the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations;  Rev. Ron Degges, President of Disciples Home Mission; Linda Bales Todd, Director of Women’s Advocacy at the General Board of Church and Society of the United Methodist Church; Episcopal Church Bishop Otis Charles;  United Methodist Bishop Jane Middleton;  Rev. Lois Powell, United Church of Christ Executive for Administration and Women's Justice; Nancy Kaufman, Chief Executive Officer of the National Council of Jewish Women; Jon O’Brien, President of Catholics for Choice; and Rabbi Dennis Ross,  Director of Concerned Clergy for Choice.
 

The full statement and list of signers is available here.*

*Organization names are for identification purposes only and do not imply endorsement by the organization.