FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 24, 2022
Contact: Jessica Felix Romero | jromero@sojo.net
Sojourners Opposes Supreme Court's Ruling Ending the Constitutional Right to an Abortion
Statement from Rev. Adam Russell Taylor in response to the Supreme Court’s ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization
WASHINGTON, DC - For fifty years, women and pregnant people have had the right to make their own reproductive health decisions, including the often difficult decision to end a pregnancy. Today the Supreme Court decision in Dobbs, overturning Roe v. Wade has radically reshaped that reality for people in as many as 28 states. For some states, so-called “trigger laws” mean that abortion became illegal the moment the Court’s ruling was issued today. And make no mistake—today’s decision will disproportionately harm low-income people and people of color.
Rev. Adam Russell Taylor, President of Sojourners, issued the following statement:
“Now is the time to rededicate ourselves to protecting the reproductive rights of all people. Everyone deserves equal access to the full range of reproductive healthcare services, including safe and legal abortion. It’s also moment that calls for a pastoral approach to care for anyone facing an unwanted pregnancy, especially in states where their choices are limited and perilous. It is critical to point out that today’s decision will not actually eliminate abortion, even in the states where it is now or will soon be illegal. In fact, we need to reckon with the fact that it will likely be counterproductive to the pro-life movement’s stated goal of ending abortion given that many of the countries with the most restrictive abortion laws are among those with the highest rates of abortion. While the Court’s decision allows states to make abortion illegal, it does not and cannot mandate that they do so. That means that state level advocacy will determine the future of reproductive rights and state level elections have become even more important.
“This is also an important moment to pursue with renewed vigilance policies that may help reduce the demand for abortion, especially among people in vulnerable situations—policies like universal access to affordable, quality health care and contraception; reducing gender-based discrimination and violence; and expanding economic support to women, parents, and families. While this shouldn’t substitute for advocacy to protect and restore reproductive rights, we can and should take a both/and approach.
“Sojourners along with our partners in the reproductive health and justice spaces, will remain steadfast in supporting the right of people to make their own decisions about their bodies, lives, and futures.”
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Sojourners, a faith-inspired nonprofit, articulates the biblical call to social justice through its magazine and digital publication and convenes, equips and mobilizes people to put their faith into action while building alliances for effective advocacy. Sojourners envisions a future in which Christians put their faith into action in the passionate pursuit of social justice. https://sojo.net/