FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 24, 2022
CONTACT
Jonny Levenfeld, West End Strategy Team
jlevenfeld@westendstrategy.com; 202-704-4535
Interfaith Alliance Blasts Dobbs Decision as Devastating Attack on Reproductive Rights, Religious Freedom
WASHINGTON–Religious freedom advocates strongly condemned the Supreme Court’s decision to upend the safety and personal liberty of the American people. In response to the Court’s decision to reverse the constitutional right to an abortion, Katy Joseph, director of policy & advocacy at Interfaith Alliance, released the following statement:
“Few moments are as personal – or as life changing – as the experience of becoming a parent. Today the Supreme Court stripped pregnant people of the right to make these decisions for themselves, based on their own beliefs and circumstances, and instead placed this authority in the hands of state legislators.
“Though we knew what was coming, this is an attack on the health and wellbeing of millions of Americans. This ruling will endanger the health and safety of especially our most vulnerable communities, including people of color, young people, and those in rural and underserved areas. The Court has unequivocally failed these communities – and the consequences will be devastating.
“The Religious Right would have you believe that this decision is a victory for religious freedom, but they are dead wrong. True religious freedom means that people seeking essential care are able to make decisions based on their own beliefs and circumstances, not the religious views of politicians. By undermining the right to abortion as a matter of privacy and religious freedom, the Court has forced one religious viewpoint on all, violated our fundamental liberties, and betrayed our Constitution’s promise of secular government. The majority’s message today is loud and clear: the protections granted by the Constitution apply only to those who subscribe to their religious beliefs.
“True religious freedom has been the foundation of our democracy, and our fierce adherence to this principle has made America a beacon for the world. While the majority of Americans may now feel powerless and disheartened, we must meet this moment together and use our collective voice to pass legislation at the local, state, and federal level that will ensure each person can make decisions about abortion led by their own circumstances and beliefs.
“To repair our democracy and defend the rights of our neighbors, we don’t have a moment to spare.”
Last year, Interfaith Alliance joined Americans United for the Separation of Church and State, American Humanists Association, and Bend the Arc Jewish Action on an amicus brief in the case. Earlier this year, they joined over 130 faith-based and civil rights organizations in calling on the Senate to pass the Women’s Health Protection Act (WHPA) into law.
If you are interested in connecting with Katy Joseph, please contact Jonny Levenfeld at (202) 704-4535 or jlevenfeld@westendstrategy.com.
Interfaith Alliance is a network of people of diverse faiths and beliefs from across the country working together to build a resilient democracy and fulfill America’s promise of religious freedom and civil rights not just for some, but for all. We mobilize powerful coalitions to challenge Christian nationalism and religious extremism, while fostering a better understanding of the healthy boundaries between religion and government. We advocate at all levels of government for an equitable and just America where the freedoms of belief and religious practice are protected, and where all persons are treated with dignity and have the opportunity to thrive. For more information visit interfaithalliance.org.