The Supreme Court ruled in 1973 that the right to choose to terminate a pregnancy was a fundamental part of a woman’s right to privacy and self-determination; yet today, anti-choice advocates right routinely seek to limit access to safe and affordable abortion services.
Family planning and contraceptive programs ensure reproductive choice, limit the occurrence of unintended pregnancies, and save billions of dollars in pregnancy-related and newborn care costs to Medicaid.
Jewish values affirm the right of a woman to self-determination, and while potential life is always considered to have value, it is never placed above a woman’s health and well-being. The Reform Movement has long been staunch supporters of women’s reproductive rights.
Several bills proposed in the 112th Congress severely threaten a woman’s right to choose. Now is the time to defend reproductive rights.