We write as clergy and congregational leaders from different faith traditions to express our strong condemnation of the newly proposed Trump-Pence administration domestic “gag” rule on Title X -- the nation’s only birth control and reproductive health care program. This unnecessary and harmful rule would make it illegal for doctors, nurses, hospitals, community health centers and other reproductive health providers to share information with patients about where and how to obtain a legal abortion. It would also make it virtually impossible for millions of patients to access reproductive health care services, including birth control, from Planned Parenthood health centers. As persons of faith, we strongly oppose this rule and its attempt to impose religious restrictions with devastating results on the lives of women. Make no mistake, this rule targets low-income women and the most vulnerable.
This policy will disproportionately hurt women who identify as members of racial or ethnic communities that often face significant health challenges due to systemic inequities. Out of the 4 million family planning patients served by Title X, more than half are women of color: 21 percent of all Title X clients identify as Black or African American, and 32 percent identify as Hispanic or Latino.
We strongly urge the Department of Health and Human Services to reject this gag rule and to remove the political intervention from the health decisions of women, men, and families. We believe that providing access to comprehensive, accurate medical information must be the basis for all health care. Our faith compels us to honor the autonomy of women as they make their own life decisions, including the use of contraception and the obtaining of safe and legal abortions if they so choose. This is a cruel policy designed to keep people from having access to the best health care available, and we strongly condemn it.
Signed in Faith,
The Rt. Rev. Gregory H. Rickel
VIII Bishop of Olympia
Rev. Tor Berg
Rev. Dr. Linda Hart
Rev. Thomas Perchlik
Rabbi Elizabeth Dunsker
Rev. Lara Crutsinger-Perry
Rabbi Jason Levine
Rev. Eric Kaminetzky
Rev. Cecilia Kingman
Rev. Marcella Glass
Rev. Lois Van Leer
Rev. Charis Weathers
Rev. Barbara Gilday
Rev. Tamalyn Kralman
Rev. Dr. Tammy Stampfli
Rev. Gary Shoemaker
Rev. Emily Melcher
Rev. Becky Withington
Rev. Robert Tucker
Rev. William Poores
Rabbi David Lipper
Rev. Jen Stuart
Rev. Laura Shennum
Rev. Ken Jones
Rev. Grace Simons
Rev. David Weasley
Rev. Bethany Hull Somers
Rev. Andrea CastroLang
Rev. Doak Mansfield
Rev. Kathryn A. Bert
Rabbi Joshua Samuels
Rabbi Seth Goldstein
Rev. Karen Hernandez
Rev. Jon M. Luopa
Rev. Elaine Peresluha
Rev. Martha Greene
Pr. Seth Novak
Rev. Cody Natland
Rev. Colin Cushman
Rabbi Zari Weiss
Rev. William Graves
Rev. Tessie Mandeville
Rev. Dick Cathell
Rev. Janet Matthews
Rev. Cheryl Rohret
Rev. Leslie Ahuvah Fails
Rabbi Bruce Kadden
Rev. Shelley Page
Rev. Elizabeth Stevens
Rabbi Marna Sapsowitz
Rev. Dr. Ronald M. Patterson
Rabbi Paula Rose
Rabbi Elana Zaiman
Rev. Kate LePard
Rabbi Allison Flash
Rev. Ann Lock
Rev. Sally Balmer
Rabbi Jill Borodin
Rabbi Ted Falcon
Rev. Mary Beth Rivetti
Rev. Barbara Davenport
Rabbi Jay Rosenbaum
Rev. Steve Coleman
Rev. Sara LaWall
Rabbi Anson Laytner
Leadership Council of Skagit
Unitarian Universalist
Fellowship
Rabbi Tamar Malino
Pr. Helen McPeak
Rev. Robin Biffle
Rev. Homer Todd
Rev. Dr. Daniel Kanter
Rabbi Robert Levine
Rev. Darcy Roake
Rev. Jana Schofield
Rev. Vincent Lachina
Rabbi Janine Schloss
Rev. Terry B. Hall
Rabbi Dennis Ross
Tags: Clergy