Catholics for Choice Mourns the Loss of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Urges the Senate to Honor Her Wishes
WASHINGTON – Catholics for Choice mourns the passing of Associate Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who was a defender of the rights of women and consistently supported the precedent of Roe v. Wade which has been the basis of protecting access to safe, legal reproductive healthcare, including abortion since the Court ruled on the landmark case in 1973.
Sara Hutchinson Ratcliffe, acting president of Catholics for Choice made the following statement:
“Throughout her life and work, Justice Ginsburg affirmed and reaffirmed that under the law men and women deserve equal protection and equal freedom to make decisions based on their conscience. As Catholics, we believe that all people are created in the image of God, men and women, and our duty is to live our faith through our good works helping others in our community. Justice Ginsburg’s work to further the freedom of choice for women, not only in their reproductive health, but in their access to jobs and fair compensation, upheld the God-given dignity of all people.
“As recently as June of this year the Court affirmed individual moral agency and access to essential, time-sensitive abortion care for all women, including the most vulnerable. As Catholics, we are called by our faith to follow our conscience in all matters of moral decision-making and to respect another’s right to do the same. When a person exercises their moral agency to seek abortion services, they should be met with affordable, accessible and compassionate care.
“What happens next for the Court will determine whether the right to decide our own best path, in pregnancy and in life, is upheld for all or restricted by the ideas of a powerful few. In her final days, Justice Ginsburg expressed a wish for her replacement on the bench to be appointed by a new president. We urge the U.S. Senate — Catholic and non-Catholic alike — to listen to their consciences, do what is right and honor Justice Ginsburg’s wishes.”
Catholics for Choice shapes and advances sexual and reproductive ethics that are based on justice, reflect a commitment to a person’s well-being and respect and affirm the capacity of all people to make moral decisions about their lives
