Reform Movement Applauds Supreme Court Decision Affirming Abortion Access

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 29, 2020

Reform Movement Applauds Supreme Court Decision Affirming Abortion Access

WASHINGTON – In response to today’s Supreme Court decision in June Medical Services, LLC v. Russo to block an unconstitutional targeted regulation of abortion provider (TRAP) law in Louisiana, Rabbi Jonah Dov Pesner, director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, and Rabbi Marla Feldman, executive director of Women of Reform Judaism, released the following statement on behalf of the Union for Reform Judaism, Women of Reform Judaism, the Central Conference of American Rabbis, and the wider Reform Movement Institutions:

Rabbi Pesner: “Today’s Supreme Court decision is a victory in the ongoing fight for reproductive rights. Medical professionals repeatedly testified that Louisiana’s restrictive anti-abortion law did nothing to improve patient health and would only have pushed safe and legal abortion out of reach for patients.

“The legal right to an abortion granted by Roe v. Wade is meaningless if those seeking abortion care cannot access it. By striking down Louisiana’s unnecessarily burdensome and medically inaccurate admitting privilege requirement, the justices upheld the Court’s precedent and affirmed what we already knew: a person’s reproductive health care options should not be dictated by geography.”

Rabbi Feldman: “The Jewish value of kavod ha’briyot (respect for individual dignity) compels us to protect the inherent dignity and moral agency of every individual. As people of faith, we remain committed to advocating for a world in which every person is able to shape their reproductive lives with dignity.”

“As we work toward this world, we call on Congress to pass the Women’s Health Protection Act (H.R. 2975/S.1645), creating a federal safeguard against future abortion bans and medically unnecessary restrictions that impede patients’ access to care.”

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The Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism is the Washington office of the Union for Reform Judaism, whose nearly 850 congregations across North America encompass 1.5 million Reform Jews, and the Central Conference of American Rabbis, whose membership includes more than 2,000 Reform rabbis. Visit www.rac.org for more.

Women of Reform Judaism (WRJ) is the women’s affiliate of the Union for Reform Judaism, representing tens of thousands of women in hundreds of women’s groups, strengthening the voice of women worldwide and empowering them to create caring communities, nurture congregations, cultivate personal and spiritual growth, and advocate for and promote progressive Jewish values. Visit www.wrj.org for more.