SACReD Statement on SCOTUS Leak about Abortion
May 3, 2022
We at SACReD believe that the state forcing anyone to carry a pregnancy and give birth against their will is a dehumanizing, morally barbaric act, and that access to abortion is a moral and social good. Given the particular impact of this type of oppressive policy on Black people, other people of color, and those of low income, we cannot ignore that the legislative implications of the leaked SCOTUS draft opinion recall some of the very worst moments in our country’s history. The time has come for people of faith to embrace the cause of reproductive justice and stand up for the bodily autonomy, dignity, equity, and human rights of all, no exceptions.
Action items:
- Connect with SACReD https://act.tfn.org/a/sacred-updates
- Follow @SACReD_Repro on Twitter and Instagram
- Donate to local abortion funds https://abortionfunds.org/
- Donate to woman of color-led reproductive justice groups like SisterSong and SisterReach
- Organize your faith community
Take a deep breath – this is deep work, and we need you for the long haul.
Join the Spiritual Alliance of Communities for Reproductive Dignity (SACReD) January 25-26, 2022, for a first-of-its-kind virtual gathering of justice-oriented people of faith, activists, and leaders from the reproductive health, rights, and justice community.
Grounded in our shared values of justice, dignity, human rights, compassion, and expansive love, we will discover how faith and reproductive liberation are interdependent through keynotes, panel discussions, and breakout sessions.
Learn why our collective voices matter now more than ever in the fight for abortion access and reproductive freedom so you can share the message of faithful reproductive dignity with yourself, your congregations and your communities.
What is SACReD?
We’re creating a religious movement to share the message of reproductive dignity. One faithful congregation at a time.
Many congregations speak proudly and publicly for the critical justice movements of our time: racial justice, LGBTQ+ justice, immigration justice. We declare at our congregation’s doors that Black Lives Matter. That our congregations are welcoming. And that hate has no home here.
And the fight for reproductive justice includes all of these important issues, where faith voices are boldly front and center. It is deeply faithful for congregations to speak out in support of reproductive dignity, including abortion.
The Spiritual Alliance of Communities for Reproductive Dignity (SACReD) calls on faithful people across the country to join us. It’s time to become a SACReD Congregation.
Registration
SACReD is the spark that will change the religious conversation around abortion.
We are building a multi-racial, multi-faith movement of congregations across the country that publicly proclaim their support for reproductive dignity.
We are creating places of love and compassion in our congregations for anyone who needs abortion care.
We are changing the culture.
Schedule
Day 1—Tuesday, January 25, 2022
| 11:00 AM EST | Opening Interfaith Worship Rev. Andrea Vassell (Worship Leader), Elana Arian, Elder Jonathan Thunderword, Rev. Amundayo Edwards, Ifáwárìnwa OyaSùúrù, Minister Tammi Vaughn, Rosana Ekert, Jeana Nam (Storyteller), Rev. Dr. Daniel Kanter, Amany Shalaby, Rev. Kenyetta Chinwe, Rabbi Mara Nathan, Jamie Manson, Rev. Dr. Earle Fisher, gina Breedlove |
| 12:00 PM EST | Panel: Actions Speak Louder than Words Rev. Dr. Cari Jackson (Moderator), Rabbi Josh Fixler, Dr. Toni M. Bond, Rev. Amelia Fulbright |
| 1:00 PM EST | Breakout Session #1 Organizing Against Local Abortion Bans Blair Wallace, Sarah Parker, Kate Danehy-Samitz SACReD Curriculum Overview #1 Rev. Kenyetta Chinwe, Dr. Elizabeth Freese What is Pro-Voice? Amy Congdon History of Abortion + Faith Panel Rev. Dr. Cari Jackson (Moderator), Anne Legier, Gil Frank, Jennifer Holland Interfaith Voices for Reproductive Justice: Work at the Intersection of Religion and Reproductive Justice Charity Woods |
| 2:00 PM EST | Breakout Session #2 SACReD Curriculum Overview #2 Rev. Dr. Cari Jackson, Rev. Dr. Rebecca Todd Peters A Reproductive Justice 101 Briefer Rev. Kenyetta Chinwe Reproductive Justice – Informed Compassionate Care Rev. Kentina Washington-Leaphart, Rev. Rob Keithan Beware of Fake Clinics: Exposing Anti-Abortion Pregnancy Centers in Your Community Emily Martin, Amy Weintraub, Graci D’Amore Texas to New Mexico: Post SB8 and How We are Getting Patients Abortions Daniel Kanter, Joan Lamunyon Sanford |
| 3:00 PM EST | Breakout Session #3 Networking Open Trust Women: Changing the Conversation About Abortion Rev. Dr. Rebecca Todd Peters Creating a Jewish Movement for Abortion Justice Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg Reproductive Justice for Muslims Sahar Pirzada Catholics and Reproductive Freedom: Breaking the Silence Teresa Delgado, Jamie Manson, and Kate Ott |
Day 2—Wednesday, January 26, 2022
| 11:00 AM EST | Keynote Cherisse Scott |
| 12:00 PM EST | SACReD Congregations Designation Launch Emma Akpan, Rev. Kenyetta Chinwe, Rev. Rob Keithan, Rev. Angela Williams |
| 1:00 PM EST | Breakout Session #4 Abortion Testimony to Eliminate Stigma Anise Simon, Jeana Nam, Elizabeth Mosley Law, Religion and Reproductive Justice Liz Reiner Platt Reproductive Justice in Latinx Communities Nancy Cárdenas Peña Religious Perspectives on Reproductive Dignity Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg, Jamie Manson, Rev. Jes Kast, Dr. Dr. Pamela L. Davis, Amany Shalaby Laboring with Hope Nakeitra Burse |
| 2:00 PM EST | Breakout Session #5 SACReD Curriculum Overview #3 Rev. Ann Hayman, Rev. Rob Keithan Reproductive Justice with Black Christian Women Dr. Toni M. Bond Abortion 101 Courtney Chambers, Sonja Miller Abortion Morality and Biblical Theology Dr. Elizabeth Freese, Rev. Angela Williams The Importance of Progressive Faith Voices Fred Clarkson |
| 3:00 PM EST | Closing Interfaith Worship Rev. Andrea Vassell (Worship Leader), Anise Simon (Storyteller) |
Partners
The entities working together to plan A SACReD Gathering are:
- All Souls Unitarian Church (Washington, DC)
- Auburn Seminary
- Congregation Beth Israel (Austin, TX)
- Emory University – EnFaith Project
- Faith in Women
- The Fellowship of Affirming Ministries
- First Unitarian Church (Dallas, TX)
- Florida Interfaith Coalition for Reproductive Health and Justice
- Just Texas – Texas Freedom Network
- Michigan Unitarian Universalist Social Justice Network
- Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice
- Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice (California Affiliate)
- Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice (Kentucky Affiliate)
- SisterSong
- Whole Woman’s Health Alliance
Diamond Sponsors
- Collaborative for Gender and Reproductive Equity
- Amy Fikes
- Auburn Seminary
- Rebecca Todd Peters and Jeff Hatcher
- SisterSong
Platinum Sponsors
- All Souls Church Unitarian, Washington, DC
- First Unitarian Church of Dallas
- First Unitarian Universalist Society of San Francisco
- Florida Interfaith Coalition for Reproductive Health and Justice
- Planned Parenthood Federation of America
- In honor of The Patients We Serve
- by Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas
- In memory of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Missing and Murdered Trans Women
- by Presbyterian Church (USA) Office of Gender & Racial Justice, Rev. Shanea D. Leonard, Coordinator
- Unitarian Universalist Association – Side With Love
Gold Sponsors
- Catholics for Choice
- National Council of Jewish Women
- New Mexico Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice
- In honor of all the many UCC women and men who have advocated for reproductive justice
- by United Church of Christ, Justice and Local Church Ministries
Silver Sponsors
- First Unitarian Church of Portland
- Judson Memorial Church, New York, NY
- In honor of Rabbi Kelly Levy
- by Mary and Harry Levy
- Presbyterians Affirming Reproductive Options (PARO)
- The Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice of California
- SisterReach
- Texas Unitarian Universalist Justice Ministry
- The Fellowship of Affirming Ministries
- Vanderbilt Divinity School
- Westmoreland Congregational United Church of Christ (UCC)
- Whole Woman’s Health Alliance
Bronze Sponsors
- Duane L. Dowell, MD
- HEART Women & Girls
- Janet Tharp
- Martha D. Kirby
- Political Research Associates
- Rebecca Martin
- Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice
- State Innovation Exchange (SiX)
- United Methodists for Reproductive Justice
- University Baptist Church, Austin, TX
- Jean Wilson
Promotional Sponsors
- Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism
