Printer-friendly versionOn the 35th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, our country is on the brink of abandoning its commitment that abortion will be safe, legal, and available if and when it is needed. The U.S. Supreme Court’s Gonzales v. Carhart opinion and the ‘fetal personhood’ passed in 17 states are sounding the death knell for the landmark constitutional decision.


At this point of crisis, compassionate clergy leadership is needed to awaken the silent majority of Americans who are pro-choice. They know that abortion is a profoundly personal decision and that women who struggle with that decision deserve respect. They know there is no one right or wrong decision about abortion and that criminalizing abortion will drive women to dangerous illegal providers but will not eliminate the procedure. They deserve to know that the majority of their religious communities support abortion being legal and available to all women, including those who are poor and need government assistance.


Government is failing in its responsibility to protect women’s health, lives and dignity. As in the dark days before Roe v. Wade, when abortion was illegal, dangerous and deadly, clergy and religious leaders are taking up that sacred responsibility. Hundreds of clergy and religious leaders in the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice (RCRC) are speaking out to protect reproductive health decisions based on individual faith and conscience, and our voices will continue to grow stronger.


Anglicans for Life encourages all clergy and religious leaders to speak out to protect unborn children and vulnerable women. Ordained men and women who believe in the sanctity of life must use their voices now before our culture accepts the twisted teachings of the RCRC.