Theological Resources

Our religious traditions affirm that life is sacred. Our faiths celebrate the divinely bestowed blessings of generating life and assuring that life can be sustained and nurtured.

Religious traditions have different beliefs on the value of fetal life, often according greater value as fetal development progresses. Science, medicine, law and philosophy contribute to this understanding. However, we uphold the teaching of many religious traditions: the health and life of the woman must take precedence over the life of the fetus.

The sanctity of human life is best upheld when we assure that it is not created carelessly. It is precisely because life and parenthood are so precious that no woman should be coerced to carry a pregnancy to term. We support responsible procreation, the widespread availability of contraception, prenatal care and intentional parenting.

Scripture neither condemns nor prohibits abortion. It does, however, call us to act compassionately and justly when facing difficult moral decisions. Scriptural commitment to the most marginalized means that pregnancy, childbearing, and abortion should be safe for all women. Scriptural commitment to truth-telling means women must have accurate information as they make their decisions.

No government committed to human rights and democracy can privilege the teachings of one religion over another. No single religious voice can speak for all faith traditions on abortion, nor should government take sides on religious differences. Women must have the right to apply or reject the principles of their own faith without legal restrictions. We oppose any attempt to make specific religious doctrine concerning abortion the law for all Americans or for the women of the world.We Affirm - National Religious Organizations' Statements on Reproductive Choice

Additional Theological Resources

• The Resource Page from the National RCRC site


• Sermons and Prayers from the National RCRC site


• Diverse religious denominations and traditions compassionately affirm a woman's moral right to make reproductive decisions according to her own conscience and religious principles. Major faith organizations representing millions of Americans have long supported a woman's right to choose. In keeping with our nation's constitutional guarantee of freedom of religion, they oppose civil laws that would impose specific religious views about abortion on all Americans... download pdf below.

  We Affirm (RCRC)

  
  
• From the website of Spiritual Youth for Reproductive Freedom. Christian, Jewish, Unitarian Universalist, Hindu, Pagan and Muslim views.

  SYRF Resources Page