People of Faith Oppose Religious Extremism in Women's Health Care

10/18/2002

From: Marjorie Signer of the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, 202-628-7700 ext. 21, msigner@rcrc.org

News Advisory:

The Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice is joining with religious and religiously affiliated groups from Christian and Jewish denominations to express concern about the growing influence of religious extremism on reproductive health care.

WHAT: News Conference

WHEN: 10 a.m., Tuesday, October 22

WHERE: First Amendment Room, National Press Club

WHO: -- Reverend Carlton W. Veazey, President, Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice -- Jean Stewart Berg, Board Chair, Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice -- Representatives from Presbyterian Church (USA), Episcopal Church, United Church of Christ, Union of American Hebrew Congregations, Unitarian Universalist Association, Baptist Church, Catholics for a Free Choice, National Council of Jewish Women, and other denominations and religiously affiliated organizations

The Bush Administration's pending appointment of Dr. W. David Hager, a member of the "Physicians Resource Council" of the radical right group Focus on the Family, to the Food and Drug Administration committee that reviews reproductive health technologies and medicines is just one example of the growth of religious extremism in health care and health policy. The impact of infusing extreme religious views into women's health care is great, including severely reduced and eliminated services, slowed research into contraception and medical technologies for infertility, fear of using certain products, increased rates of unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, and increased restrictions on abortion services.