General
National Faith Coalition Stands Up for Reproductive and Religious Freedom
Last week, Interfaith Alliance proudly joined the launch of Faithful Majority for Reproductive Freedom, the first national faith-based coalition dedicated to advancing reproductive and religious freedom. This coalition unites diverse faith organizations committed to challenging the harmful falsehood that religion opposes reproductive health care.
In recent years, attacks on reproductive freedom and access to care have escalated at every level of government. These attacks are driven by narrow religious ideologies seeking to impose one interpretation of faith on everyone, denying millions the right to make personal health decisions. Faithful Majority for Reproductive Freedom stands united to change this narrative by centering the voices of people of faith who support access to abortion and reproductive services.
As Sheila Katz, CEO of National Council of Jewish Women and coalition co-lead, said, “Our religious freedom and our reproductive freedom are inseparable. We are proud to reclaim the moral narrative: people of faith believe in dignity, in compassion, and in the sacred right to bodily autonomy.”
As part of this week’s launch, coalition members met with Congressional offices to discuss the critical role of faith in the fight for reproductive freedom. These conversations included engagement with offices of faith-rooted lawmakers, including members of House leadership and the Reproductive Freedom Caucus, all committed to protecting reproductive rights and religious liberty.
All of our Hill visits were successful and marked by meaningful dialogue, curiosity, and warm reception. One particularly notable meeting was with Representative Clyburn’s office, where we met with staff leaders including the Faith Outreach Director and the abortion policy lead. The richness of the conversation underscored the value of cross-issue collaboration. An important takeaway was the encouragement to expand our outreach beyond the original list of targeted lawmakers, many of whom are in the Reproductive Freedom Caucus, and to include new allies and adjacent coalitions. We were reminded of the power of building bridges, resisting siloed work, and recognizing how connected our efforts are. Reproductive freedom is deeply tied to broader movements for justice like racial, economic, and religious, and when we organize across those intersections, we are stronger together.
Faithful Majority for Reproductive Freedom represents organizations across faith traditions affirming that the majority of people of faith support reproductive freedom. Together, we are working to shift culture toward compassion, dignity, and justice for all.
Read the full press release [here].
A Victory for Religious Freedom and Public Education
The Senate Parliamentarian just struck a major blow to efforts to undermine public education and erode the separation of religion and government. The proposed national school voucher program, modeled on the so-called Educational Choice for Children Act, has been removed from the Senate’s budget reconciliation package after being ruled in violation of the Byrd Rule.
Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals Ruling Against Louisiana’s Ten Commandments Law is a Big Win for Religious Freedom
Interfaith Alliance, a leading advocate for healthy boundaries between religion and government, welcomed the ruling by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals that prevents Louisiana from enforcing its unconstitutional law requiring public schools to display the Ten Commandments. Interfaith Alliance was one of 19 religious organizations that co-signed a friend-of-the-court brief in the case.
Faith That Speaks Truth to Power: Reform Rabbis Reject White Nationalism
A few weeks ago, the U.S. Reform Jewish community delivered a powerful message of moral clarity. The Central Conference of American Rabbis (CCAR), a leading voice in progressive Judaism, passed a bold resolution explicitly opposing white Christian nationalism and affirming its commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). This action demonstrates the power of empowering and mobilizing the Jewish community to challenge the growing threats to democracy and pluralism by reclaiming and correcting the false narrative promoted by white Christian nationalist rhetoric. It also offers a vital example of how faith communities can and must speak out.