WISCONSIN – Today, religious leaders and clergy from across the state held a press conference outside Planned Parenthood Health Center (located at 435 S. Water Street, Milwaukee) to support Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin and condemn the reversal by the Supreme Court of Roe vs. Wade. These leaders, their faith communities, and 118 others who signed an open letter (excerpt below) believe in protecting the ability to decide if or when you become a parent, a deeply personal decision that each person should have the ability to make. take for themselves, in consultation with their conscience and their closest advisers.

The Supreme Court’s decision in conjunction with the acts of the local Wisconsin legislature was detrimental to the freedoms and future of Wisconsin residents today. Personal medical decisions regarding your sexual and reproductive health should be made by you, and you alone.

STATEMENT BY RABBI BONNIE MARGULIS, PRESIDENT OF THE WISCONSIN RELIGIOUS COALITION FOR REPRODUCTIVE CHOICE

“As religious leaders, we are also distressed that this decision seeks to enshrine in law a narrow religious view, thereby violating the Constitution’s explicit protection for freedom of religion. The free exercise of religion – including the right not to observe any religion – means that no religious concept can control the law and the lives of those who hold a different religious belief.

“People of faith believe many different things about the beginnings of human life. No religious view should decide American law, especially one as personal as this. The difficult decision to terminate a pregnancy is for many the result of consulting one’s conscience and one’s closest advisors, and above all because such a decision is a matter of personal bodily autonomy, should not be subject to the point of restrictive religious or philosophical view of others.

“Citizens of Wisconsin: Know that believers stand with patients, their doctors, and their loved ones. We know that when abortion care is not available, women die. And we also know that abortion bans will not reduce the number of abortions performed: they will simply make abortions more dangerous and potentially deadly.

CLICK HERE to view today’s press conference livestream.