Reproductive Health

Unitarian Universalists have a long tradition of working for women’s rights. Our UUA statements of support for reproductive choice began in 1963, ten years before the passage of Roe v. Wade, and continued last summer at General Assembly 2003, with the Women’s Rights Action of Immediate Witness. But our legacy of activism goes back much farther and runs much deeper. By affirming the inherent worth and dignity of every person, the right of individual conscience, and respect for human life, our tradition continues to support the choices of women, men, and families, providing tolerance and compassion even when those choices may differ from our own.

Because the government and right-wing religious fundamentalists have been whittling away at a woman’s right to choose since the day of Roe’s passing, reproductive health care is again increasingly unavailable. In 2000, 87% of counties in the United States were without a single abortion provider. “Abstinence only” education is pushed in our public schools. Comprehensive family planning advice is a scarcity. Young women, women of color, and low-income women all experience decreased access to reproductive health. The anti-choice movement has laid claim to the religious voice in this debate. The UUA recognizes this increasing threat to women and the need, as Unitarian Universalists and religious people, for us to stand and bear witness to our belief in the freedom of choice.

Threats to women and their rights are happening everyday in Congress and in the Courts. We can witness our UU values and beliefs around legislation and in the courts by becoming knowledgeable and effective advocates for justice and equality. To learn more about the current federal legislation around reproductive health, click here. To learn more about federal judicial nominations, click here.

In addition to valuable legislative advocacy work, there is an event on the horizon that will provide a large-scale, highly visible way for UUs to show our support for women and healthy reproductive choices. On Sunday, April 25, 2004 there will be a mass March on Washington for Women’s Lives. It is the first women’s march in more than a decade. Organizers are expecting more than a million people – UUs should make a strong showing! To learn about the UU mobilization around the national March for Women’s Lives, click here.

Why We Act
We support reproductive health advocacy because as UUs, we covenant to affirm and promote:

• The inherent worth and dignity of every person, the right of individual conscience, and respect for human life as inalienable rights due every person; and the personal right to choose in regard to contraception and abortion as an important aspect of these right.
• Tolerance and compassion for persons whose choices may differ from our own, and
• The value of life itself and the quality of that life

Read Summary of Resolutions on Reproductive Health from past General Assemblies

Read Action of Immediate Witness on Women’s Rights from GA 2003 in Boston

View Questions for Discussion around Unitarian Universalist Principles & Reproductive Health

Take Action
Check out the UUA Washington Office for Advocacy’s website for lots of information on legislation, judicial nominations, the National March for Women’s Lives, links, background, opportunities for witness, and action items.

Click here for reproductive health-specific information

View the ACTION PACKET for Reproductive Choice, a resource put together by the UUA Washington Office. These issue specific resources, along with the Office’s general advocacy resources, are available in paper form from the office by request. Email Kierstin Homblette at khomblette@uua.org to be mailed a copy of this and/or any of the other packets (Civil Liberties and Global AIDS).

To sign up for legislative action alerts on federal reproductive health-related legislation, contact Kierstin Homblette at khomblette@uua.org

Click here for UUA Social Justice Resources for you congregation

Unitarian Universalist Resources:

• Read one UU minister’s story of social action with the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice in Witchita, KS
• Read proposed (but not passed) Preliminary Study Action Issue from 2000 entitled Abortion Availability Requires Trained Doctors
  
  Read news about UU participation in an interfaith Roe v. Wade event 2003

Sermons:

• Sermon entitled “On the Dais” by The Rev. Victoria Weinstein of the First Parish Unitarian Universalist Norwell, MA
• Sermon entitled "Nothing is Black & White" by the Rev. Katie Lee Crane of the First Parish of Sudbury, Massachusetts

RE Curricula:

• Information about the Our Whole Lives (OWL) Sexuality Education Program

Social Justice Statements:

• Summary of Resolutions on Reproductive Health from past General Assemblies
• Action of Immediate Witness on Women’s Rights from GA 2003 in Boston

UUA Washington Office

Beacon Press Books:

• Emily Martin, Flexible Bodies: The Role of Immunity in American Culture—From the Days of Polio to the Age of AIDS
• Paula Peterson, Women in the Grove

Affiliate Groups:

• Unitarian Universalist Women’s Federation (UUWF)

Other Resources:

• More reproductive health, social justice, and women's organizations that are working on reproductive health issues

Unitarian Universalist Association
25 Beacon St. | Boston, MA 02108 | 617-742-2100