Reform Movement Opposes Trump Administration Ruling on Contraceptive Mandate

For Immediate Release 
October 6, 2017 

WASHINGTON—The Trump administration ruled that the contraceptive mandate in the Affordable Care Act does not apply to employers who claim that the mandate violates their religious or moral beliefs. In response to this ruling, Rabbi Jonah Dov Pesner, Director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, issued the following statement on behalf of the Union for Reform Judaism, Central Conference of American Rabbis, and wider Reform Movement: 

"The Trump administration's decision to roll back the Affordable Care Act's contraception mandate is an egregious assault on women's rights. This decision has been falsely characterized as a win for religious liberty. It is not. In fact, it undoes a rule that delicately balanced religious liberty and conscience claims with the compelling interest of ensuring all women have access to reproductive health care. A woman’s right to control her own body should not depend on her employer. We staunchly oppose this decision."  

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The Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism is the Washington office of the Union for Reform Judaism, whose more than 900 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.