As New Jersey faith leaders from many religious traditions, we affirm our faith-informed support of policies that ensure equitable access to comprehensive reproductive health care. We have a particular focus on addressing the atrocities in Black maternal health, which are literally killing Black mothers and babies at an alarming rate. Our alliance stands firmly to denounce the systemic racism plaguing this country, that has infiltrated every aspect of health care, primarily and adversely affecting Black people. We affirm that Black lives matter.
People of all faiths need and support reproductive health care services and education, including abortion. Attempts to restrict access to reproductive health care and other social services are pervasive attempts to oppress women. They act as a wedge issue attempting to garner political support. It is an attempt to deem sovereignty of a particular faith and moral stance over others who may not share that same belief system. It is out of respect for our various religious teachings and moral choices that we encourage community values that take our scriptures and traditions seriously-- and allow us to make health care choices for ourselves based on our conscience and access to the most up-to-date medical information.
We recognize that no single religious leader speaks for all people of faith, and we protest the enshrinement of any faith strictures as public policy. We recognize there are a diversity of views in the New Jersey faith community. Indeed, not everyone in our own congregations or denominations agrees. But as leaders, in part because of this wide range of opinion and theological discussion, we are called to declare our support for access to abortion and other reproductive health care services and sex education as a basic issue of health, safety, and moral agency. We support everyone’s right to make a decision consistent with their own personal situation and beliefs.
Our religious principles are grounded in a love and acceptance of all people. We believe deeply that means being free of racism and discrimination, ending the shame and stigma associated with reproductive health care, including abortion, and increasing access for all people to a full range of reproductive healthcare options and sexual health information.
We join our clergy predecessors in advocacy for laws and policies that safeguard and strengthen access to reproductive health care, and we stand by the work of reproductive health providers who are providing quality and affordable care, and comprehensive sex education that is so vital to the well-being of our communities.
Therefore it follows that, as faith leaders, we believe it is our duty to include our voices among the many being raised in New Jersey advocating for comprehensive, age-appropriate, medically-informed sex education and reproductive health care access regardless of income, race, sexual orientation or zip code. We affirm our faith-informed support of policies that ensure access to affordable, high-quality sexual and reproductive health care services, including abortion, as well as medically-accurate, age-appropriate, LGBTQ-inclusive sex education, so all people can make the best decisions for their lives.
Signed,
Rabbi Adena Blum
Rabbi Alexandra Klein
Mrs. AnnMarie Griffin-Ussak
Rabbi Arnold S. Gluck
Rabbi Benjamin David
Reverend Carol S. Haag
Reverend Dr. Craig Rubano
Rabbi Cyril Stanway
Reverend Dr. Charles F. Boyer
The Reverend Edmund L. Hoener Jr.
Rabbi Ellie Miller
The Reverend Emilie Boggis
Cantor Erica J Lippitz
Rabbi Ethan Prosnit
Rabbi Emeritus Gordon Gladstone
Rabbi Hannah Orden
Rabbi Harvey Rosenfeld
Pastor J. Amos Caley
Rabbi Jacob Best Adler
Cantor Jacqueline Menaker
Rabbi Jim Stoloff
Rabbi Joel N. Abraham
Rabbi Joel Pitkowsky
Rev. John Rogers
Rabbi Jordan Millstein
The Reverend Jose C. Lopez
The Reverend Juanita Lopez
Reverend Karen G Johnston
Rabbi Karen Glazer Perolman
Pastor Kenneth Corson
Cantor Kenneth Feibush
The Reverend Kimberly Wildszewski
Rabbi Laurence P Malinger
Rabbi Leah Sternberg
Rabbi Leana Moritt
Rabbi Marc Katz
Rabbi Marc Kline
The Reverend Margret A. O'Neall
Dr. Mary Early-Zald
The Reverend Mary Tiebout
Rabbi Matthew Gewirtz
Rabbi Melinda Panken
Rabbi Michael Satz
Cantor Nitza Shamah
Rabbi Paula Feldstein
Rabbi Philip Bazeley
Rabbi Rachel Steiner
Rabbi Rebecca Shinder
Rabbi Renee Goldberg Edelman
Reverend Rob Gregson
The Reverend Roberto Fois
The Reverend Rosemarie Newberry
Reverend Sonia Ketchian
Rabbi Steven Sirbu
The Reverend Virginia Jarocha-Ernst