The Unitarian Universalist Women’s Federation is outraged that the United States Supreme Court is poised to set aside Roe v. Wade. We endorse our denominational leadership at Side With Love, who state: “Our Unitarian Universalist faith affirms that all of our bodies are sacred, and that we are each endowed with the twin gifts of agency and conscience. Each of us should have the power to decide what does and doesn’t happen to our bodies at every moment of our lives because consent and bodily autonomy are holy. And when disparities in resources or freedoms make it more difficult for certain groups of people to exercise autonomy over their own bodies, our faith compels us to take liberatory action.”
Roe has been a cornerstone of American law that has protected the rights of women for fifty years. A pregnant person’s right to make their own reproductive choices is a basic human freedom protected by the Bill of Rights, notwithstanding the absence of specific references to abortion in the text. This was decided by the court in Roe fifty years ago.
The draft opinion penned by Justice Alito claims that Roe and its progeny, Casey, were wrongly decided by the judges that decided them. The impact of the court’s action will not only cause unjust and irreparable harm to millions of women—the overwhelming majority of whom are black, brown, and low-income—but will endanger other existing American jurisprudence that protects constitutionally guaranteed civil and human rights.
The Unitarian Universalist Women’s Federation stands firmly beside those who are tirelessly working to defend reproductive freedom. We call on Congress and President Biden to move swiftly to codify Roe into law. We urge state governments to ensure uninterrupted access to comprehensive reproductive health care for women, including abortion services. We call on the majority of Americans who support reproductive justice and abortion access to join Election Protection efforts in their communities, and vote, vote, vote.
For more information on how to get involved in reproductive justice:
For more information on Election Protection and Get Out the Vote:
