Coalition Says Fundamentalists Misrepresent Religious Views  Compiled by GayToday Based on Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice Report

Ninety-two percent of respondents said every woman should be free to decide when to have children according her own conscience and religious beliefs. Moreover, clergy strongly supported providing sex education in religious schools and youth group settings and discussing sexuality and reproductive choice from the pulpit. "The Religious Right has misled the American public into believing religious people oppose abortion, reproductive choice, and sex education. In fact, mainstream clergy are overwhelmingly pro-choice," said the Rev. Carlton W. Veazey, executive director of the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice.  

Eighty percent of the 420 respondents said they support a woman's right to have access to a safe and legal abortion. Respondents said the most important factors in decisions about sexuality and choice are religious tradition, personal beliefs and values, medical considerations, and quality of life issues. 

Despite Religious Right harassment and intimidation, "we are seeing an increasing awareness among clergy of all denominations that basic human issues of sexuality must be dealt with as moral, ethical choices," said Rabbi Bonnie Margulis, the coalition’s director of clergy programs. Seventy-five percent of survey respondents noted that the lack of faith-based sex education materials posed a serious problem to providing suitable education. Jewish and Methodist respondents were especially concerned about the lack of sex education materials.  

Clergy emphasized the need for sexual ethics, parent-child communication, and biblical and traditional sources in programs on sexuality and choice for adults and young people. Based on the results of the survey, the Religious Coalition will develop congregational programs to stimulate dialogue on sexuality and reproductive choice. The Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice is the national pro-choice voice of religious communities. Comprised of 42 mainline faith organizations, the coalition works to ensure reproductive choice through education and advocacy. 

Fact Sheet:  

National Survey of Clergy Attitudes About Sexuality and Reproductive Choice Distribution And Response:   
 

Survey was sent to more than 4,000 clergy. More than 420 responses were received from numerous faith groups including: American Baptist, Baptist, Episcopalian, Jewish (Reform and Conservative), Pentecostal, Presbyterian, Southern Baptist, Unitarian Universalist, United Church of Christ, United Pentecostal High response indicates the survey has tapped into unexplored clergy attitudes about choice.

Support for Choice:  

Survey asked about choice in different ways. 92 percent of respondents agreed with statement: "I believe every woman should be free to make decisions about when to have children, according to her own conscience and religious beliefs." 80 percent agreed with most direct question on choice: "I support a woman’s right to access to a safe and legal abortion." 88 percent of Jews and Methodists and 68 percent of Presbyterian Church (USA) clergy responding support access to abortion.  

Choice Not Limited To Abortion: 
  
Clergy have a broad understanding of reproductive choice. Most said choice included sex education, access to safe and legal abortion, access to reproductive health care and family planning services, freedom from sexual abuse/coercion, accessible adoption services, and ability to provide for children (including access to health care, child care, livable wages).  

Discussing Sexuality:  

Clergy overwhelmingly support discussing sexuality and reproductive choice  in their congregations. Greatest support was among African-Americans (95 percent), Jews (91 percent), Presbyterian Church (USA) (90 percent), and United Church of Christ (90 percent). 

Sex Education:  

Seventy-five percent of respondents said lack of faith-based sexuality education materials was a serious problem. Age Factor: Age was a factor in responses: 95 percent over age 65 and 91 percent age 55-65 included access to abortion in their definition of choice; only 81 percent of those under 35 did so. Younger clergy may be more apt to take safe and legal abortion services for granted. Faith Group Responses Jews: 91 percent support discussing sexuality and choice issues from the pulpit; 97 percent included access to abortion as part of choice; 51 percent say denomination should do more in sexuality education.Presbyterian Church (USA): 90 percent see need for discussing sex and choice in congregations; 76 percent include access to abortion as part of choice, 22 percent said more should be done on sexuality education and 33 percent say more should be done on education about reproductive choice.United Methodist: 85 percent believe individuals can benefit from congregational dialogue about sex and reproductive choice, 88 percent support access to safe, legal abortion, 72 percent say denomination should do more in sexuality education. 

Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice:  

The Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice is the national pro-choice voice of religious communities. Comprised of 42 mainline faith organizations, the coalition works to ensure reproductive choice through education and advocacy. The coalition places particular emphasis on the reproductive issues of people of color, those living in poverty, and other underserved populations.