Planned Parenthood
Pro-Choice Religious Network

The Planned Parenthood Pro-Choice Religious Network was established in 1994 by the Planned Parenthood Federation of America Clergy Advisory Board. The network is an outgrowth of a national grassroots movement among those who believe there is a spiritual basis for reproductive freedom. Members strive to demonstrate that religious political extremists do not speak for all religions or all religious Americans.

The network seeks to educate the public about the historic and widespread support within the religious community for Planned Parenthood, family planning, and the pro-choice position. Members speak in communities and government chambers throughout the U.S. in support of reproductive freedom, and identify and encourage pro-choice clergy and people of faith to speak out.

Statement of Beliefs

• We believe that clergy have a special responsibility to bear witness in support of reproductive rights so that the public and their elected representatives may understand the theological and moral basis for reproductive rights.
  
• We believe that family planning and responsible sex education are the most effective methods of reducing the need for abortion. Clergy must help parents reach and teach their children by providing medically accurate and age-appropriate sex education in their congregations and in their local communities and schools.
  
• We believe that both men and women have an inherent right to reproductive freedom, that this freedom includes the right to abortion, and that abortion is a complex moral and ethical issue that cannot be resolved by solutions that are simplistic or cruel.
  
• We believe that ultimately the decision about abortion is a matter between a woman, her conscience, and/or her God, and that those close to her should offer support in any way they can.

Newsletters

Use the links below to read the current and past issues of Clergy Voices, the newsletter of the PPFA Clergy Advisory Board.

• Fall 2007
  
• Fall 2006
  
• Spring 2005
  
• Spring 2003
  
• Fall 2002
  
• Winter 2001
  
• Fall 2001
  
• Winter 2000
  
• Spring 2000
  
• Fall 2000
  
• Fall 1999
  

Resources

Included here are resources of interest to the pro-choice religious community, including articles, sermons, and speeches.

Clergy Statements

• Clergy Statement On Religious Pluralism
• Clergy Statement on Comprehensive, Medically Accurate, and Age-Appropriate Sex Education
• Clergy Statement on the opening of the Aurora Health Center
• Clergy Statement on So-Called "Crisis Pregnancy Centers"
• Clergy Statement on the 40th Anniversary of the Clergy Consultation Service on Abortion
• Clergy Statement on Access to Contraception
• Clergy Statement on the Federal Abortion Ban
• Clergy Statement on Stem Cell Research
• Clergy Statement on Teen Access and Parental Involvement

• Acceptance Remarks by the 2008 Davis Award Recipient, Rev. Deborah A. McKinley 
• Acceptance Remarks by the 2007 Davis Award Recipient, Rev. Michael Smith
• Acceptance Remarks by the 2006 Davis Award Recipient, Rev. W. Stewart MacColl

• Rev. Jennifer Butler's Remarks from the March 28, 2008, Planned Parenthood Prayer Breakfast
• Rev. Peter Laarman's Remarks from the March 29, 2007, PPFA Interfaith Breakfast and Plenary: Religion, Politics, and Reproductive Justice
• Keynote Speech by Rev. Susan Thistlethwaite, 2006 Planned Parenthood Interfaith Prayer Breakfast

For further information or to join the PPFA Pro-Choice Religious Network, please contact us at clergy.voices@ppfa.org.