The Planned Parenthood of New York City Religious Leaders Task Force is made up of clergy representing diverse religious traditions who help policymakers, the media, and the public to understand how religious principles support reproductive freedom. Members of the task force write sermons on reproductive health issues, lobby legislators in Albany, and advocate for Planned Parenthood in their denominations.
In 2006, the task force published a statement, “Reproductive Justice in a Just Society,” which has been endorsed by more than 80 clergy in the New York metropolitan area. It states:
“The decisions we make about our reproductive and sexual lives, but most especially, the decision to have a child, are among the most important decisions that we, as human beings, can make. Having a child is a precious responsibility that changes our lives forever. The privileged in this world, for the most part, have unfettered access to the reproductive health and education services necessary to decide for themselves when and whether to bear or raise a child. The poor and the disadvantaged do not. Thus, the struggle for reproductive justice is inextricably bound up with the effort to secure a more just society. Accordingly, those who would labor to achieve economic and social justice are called upon to join in the effort to achieve reproductive justice and, thereby, help realize the sacred vision of a truly just society for all.”
If you are a faith leader and would like to endorse the statement, please print our endorsement form (PDF) and mail it to PPNYC. The mailing address is on the form.
To receive information about the task force, e-mail “clergy@ppnyc.org.”
