Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice
The Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice (RCRC) was founded in 1973[1] by clergy and lay leaders from mainline denominations and faith traditions to create an interfaith organization following the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion in the U.S.[2] In 1993, the original name - the Religious Coalition for Abortion Rights (RCAR) - was changed to the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice.[3]
Leadership
- President and CEO: The Reverend Harry F. Knox
- Chair of the Board: The Reverend Dr. Alethea Smith-Withers, Pastor of the Pavilion of God (Baptist), Washington, DC
- Chair of the Coalition Council, Kate Lannamann, J.D.
State affiliates
The state affiliates and state networks of the Religious Coalition are involved in advocacy, education, community service, and implementing RCRC programs such as Clergy for Choice, All Options Clergy Counseling, and Spiritual Youth for Reproductive Freedom at the community and state level.[4]
- California
- Colorado website
- Connecticut website
- Illinois website
- Indiana website
- Kentucky website
- Minnesota website
- New Mexico website
- Ohio website
- Oklahoma website
- Wisconsin website
Member organizations
Coalition Council Members:[5]
- Rabbinical Assembly
- United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism
- Women's League for Conservative Judaism
- The Episcopal Church
- American Ethical Union National Service Conference
- Society for Humanistic Judaism
- Presbyterians Affirming Reproductive Options (PARO) of the Presbyterian Church (USA)
- Jewish Reconstructionist Federation
- Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association
- Central Conference of American Rabbis
- North American Federation of Temple Youth
- Women of Reform Judaism, The Federation of Temple Sisterhoods
- Women's Rabbinic Network of Central Conference of American Rabbis
- The United Church of Christ
- Unitarian Universalist Association
- Unitarian Universalist Women's Federation website
- Young Religious Unitarian Universalists
- Continental Unitarian Universalist Young Adult Network
- American Jewish Committee
- American Jewish Congress
- Anti-Defamation League
- Catholics for Choice
- Christian Lesbians Out (CLOUT)
- Church of the Brethren Women's Caucus
- Disciples for Choice
- Episcopal Urban Caucus
- Episcopal Women's Caucus
- Hadassah, WZOA
- Jewish Women International
- Lutheran Women's Caucus
- Methodist Federation for Social Action
- NA'AMAT USA
- National Council of Jewish Women
- Women's American ORT
- YWCA of the USA
Controversy
The pro-life group "Priests for Life"[6] published a 2003 book criticizing the theological basis for the RCRC's work, "Holy Abortion".[7]
See also
References
- ↑ Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice website, rcrc.org
- ↑ Abortion in the United States
- ↑ RCRC website "About" section, "History"
- ↑ RCRC website "About" section, "Affiliates"
- ↑ Coalition Council/ Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, "Coalition Council" Accessdate = 2013-10-25
- ↑ Priests for Life website accessdate 2013-10-25
- ↑ Gorman, Michael J. and Brooks, Ann Loar, "Holy Abortion", Wipf and Stock Publishers, Eugene, Oregon, 2003, 92pp.
External links
- Religious Coalition of Reproductive Choice (official website)