The Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice (RCRC) is an

abortion rights Abortion-rights movements, also referred to as pro-choice movements, advocate for the right to have legal access to induced abortion services including elective abortion. They seek to represent and support women who wish to terminate their pre ...

organization founded in 1973 by clergy and lay leaders from mainline denominations and faith traditions to create an interfaith organization following ''

Roe v. Wade ''Roe v. Wade'', 410 U.S. 113 (1973),. was a landmark decision of the U.S. Supreme Court in which the Court ruled that the Constitution of the United States conferred the right to have an abortion. The decision struck down many federal and st ...

'', the 1973

U.S. Supreme Court The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) is the highest court in the federal judiciary of the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all U.S. federal court cases, and over state court cases that involve a point o ...

decision legalizing abortion in the U.S. In 1993, the original name – the Religious Coalition for Abortion Rights (RCAR) – was changed to the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice.

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. *California *Colorado *Connecticut *Illinois *Indiana *Kentucky *Minnesota *New Mexico *Ohio *Oklahoma *Wisconsin

Member organizations

Coalition Council Members: *

Rabbinical Assembly The Rabbinical Assembly (RA) is the international association of Conservative rabbis. The RA was founded in 1901 to shape the ideology, programs, and practices of the Conservative movement. It publishes prayerbooks and books of Jewish interest, an ...

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Union for Reform Judaism The Union for Reform Judaism (URJ), known as the Union of American Hebrew Congregations (UAHC) until 2003, founded in 1873 by Rabbi Isaac Mayer Wise, is the congregational arm of Reform Judaism in North America. The other two arms established ...

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*American Ethical Union National Service Conference *

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*Presbyterians Affirming Reproductive Options (PARO) of the

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*Women of Reform Judaism, The Federation of Temple Sisterhoods *

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of Central Conference of American Rabbis *The

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*Unitarian Universalist Women's Federatio
website
*

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*Continental Unitarian Universalist Young Adult Network *

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*Christian Lesbians Out (CLOUT) *Church of the Brethren Women's Caucus *Disciples for Choice *Episcopal Urban Caucus *Episcopal Women's Caucus * Hadassah, WZOA *

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* Lutheran Women's Caucus * Methodist Federation for Social Action *NA'AMAT USA *

National Council of Jewish Women The National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) is a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization. Founded in 1893, NCJW is self-described as the oldest Jewish women’s grassroots organization in the United States, now comprised by over 180,000 members. As of ...

*Women's American ORT * YWCA of the USA

Reception

RCRC is criticized as advancing a "theology of choice" in ''Holy Abortion'', a 2003 book co-authored by United Methodist Michael J. Gorman, a professor at St. Mary's Seminary & University in Baltimore, Maryland. Gorman, Michael J. and Brooks, Ann Loar, ''Holy Abortion'', Wipf and Stock Publishers, Eugene, Oregon, 2003, 92pp.

References

External links