Abortions will continue regardless of the reckless decisions of the Supreme Court and of our Red State that now has the distinction of being the “first and the worst,” as our AG overturns court stays and signs Missouri’s trigger laws into being. Now, more people will die tragic, painful deaths and the divide between the two Americas, separated by race, class, and access, will grow.
CRC was founded in 1984 and we committed to be a pro-choice congregation. We will not allow a small group of anti-life religious fundamentalists put the lives of the most vulnerable at risk- women and all those who can become pregnant. We will not, we cannot, stand idly by the blood of those who will lose affordable, safe, life-saving healthcare with these hateful laws that punish healthcare providers, the most vulnerable, and anyone who wants to help.
This will not be the first time we are called to go underground to provide access to life saving care.
This will not be the first time that we will risk arrest by accompanying those seeking abortions across state lines.
This will not be the first time we will stand on the front line to change unjust hateful laws.
When we decided to be a pro-choice congregation, we did not know that one day we would be called upon to defend this basic right. As Jews and as human beings, we understand that pregnancies will continue to be terminated and it is up to us to make sure that there will continue to be safe and equitable access, especially in our red state.
The day has come to make good on our commitment. WE ARE NOT ALONE! We are part of a huge movement that will fight back on every front. Missouri has been dealing with the lack of access to affordable safe abortions for a long time. There are groups like Pro Choice Missouri, the Abortion Fund, Planned Parenthood, and the Hope Clinic that need our support. Right here. Let us know what you are doing. We will stand together front and center to make sure that there is no blood on our hands and we find every way we can to protect our right to choose.
-Rabbi Susan Talve, on behalf of your rabbis.
Ways to Take Action:
Attend the online Jewish Vigil for Abortion access at 3:00 pm cst today:
Attend Bans Off St. Louis + Planned Parenthood’s event this evening, Friday, June 24th 6:00 pm at Planned Parenthood (4251 Forest Park Ave) and take to the streets to demonstrate that people still support abortion access and won’t back down. For more info:
Attend Access MO’s zoom event Sunday June 26th at 7:00 pm with Wash U Law Professor Susan Appleton (who also serves on the Planned Parenthood STL Region and Guttmacher Institute boards) to hear her thoughts and discuss the “actual” decision. Rabbi Susan Talve will be among the co-hosts of this event.
Organizations to Support:
Planned Parenthood
Hope Clinic
Pro Choice Missouri
Jewish Fund for Abortion Access in partnership with the National Abortion Federation (NAF)
Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice