Statement of the Reverend Carlton W. Veazey, President and CEO of the Religious Coalition...

Statement of the Reverend Carlton W. Veazey, President and CEO of the
Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, on the 35th Anniversary of Roe v.
Wade

WASHINGTON, Jan. 16 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following is a statement by
Reverend Carlton W. Veazey, President and CEO of the Religious Coalition for
Reproductive Choice:

"On the 35th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, our country is on the brink of
abandoning its commitment that abortion will be safe, legal, and available if
and when it is needed. The U.S. Supreme Court's Gonzales v. Carhart opinion
and the 'fetal personhood' initiatives and outright abortion bans being
promoted in at least 17 states are sounding the death knell for the landmark
constitutional decision.

"At this point of crisis, compassionate clergy leadership is needed to awaken
the silent majority of Americans who are pro-choice. They know that abortion
is a profoundly personal decision and that women who struggle with that
decision deserve respect. They know there is no one right or wrong decision
about abortion and that criminalizing abortion will drive women to dangerous
illegal providers but will not eliminate the procedure. They deserve to know
that the majority of their religious communities support abortion being legal
and available to all women, including those who are poor and need government
assistance.

"Government is failing in its responsibility to protect women's health, lives
and dignity. As in the dark days before Roe v. Wade, when abortion was
illegal, dangerous and deadly, clergy and religious leaders are taking up that
sacred responsibility. Hundreds of clergy and religious leaders in the
Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice are speaking out to protect
reproductive health decisions based on individual faith and conscience, and
our voices will continue to grow stronger."

The Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice is the national interfaith
coalition of religious and religiously affiliated organizations from 15 faith
traditions that support reproductive choice on religious and moral grounds.
Founded in 1973, RCRC programs and services include Clergy for Choice,
Seminarians for Choice, The National Black Church Initiative, La Iniciativa
Latino, Spiritual Youth for Reproductive Freedom, All Options Clergy
Counseling, faith-based sexuality education, and public policy, advocacy and
education.

SOURCE Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice

Marjorie Signer of The Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice,
+1-202-628-7700 ext 12, cell: +1-202-341-5559, msigner@rcrc.org