[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 82 (Thursday, May 17, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1077]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CLERGY CONSULTATION SERVICE ON 
                                ABORTION

                                 ______
                                 

                     HON. LOUISE McINTOSH SLAUGHTER

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 17, 2007

  Ms. SLAUGHTER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 40th 
anniversary of the Clergy Consultation Service on Abortion on May 21st, 
2007, and the many fine clergy women and men of the Religious Coalition 
for Reproductive Choice who continue this tradition of service. At the 
time the Clergy Service was founded, hundreds, if not thousands, of 
women died each year because of unsafe, illegal abortions. Many of the 
women suffering the health hazards of an illegal abortion were the most 
vulnerable, including women of color and low-income women.
  The heroic clergy who came together to form the Clergy Consultation 
Service felt a moral responsibility to help women in need. The Clergy 
Service provided comfort, hope, and access to doctors who performed 
safe abortions and treated women with dignity and respect. 
Participating ministers and rabbis risked public censure and criminal 
prosecution to provide compassionate counseling and spiritual support 
to women with an unintended pregnancy. Today, the tradition of support 
for women has continued through the Religious Coalition for 
Reproductive Choice and the Clergy for Choice Network.
  Over one million American women sought illegal abortions annually at 
the time the Clergy Consultation Service on Abortion was established. 
In 1965 alone, 17 percent of all pregnancy-related deaths were due to 
illegal abortions. The largest percentage of abortion deaths was among 
women ages 35-39 with five or six children.
  In my home State of New York in 1967, the only legal reason for 
performing an abortion was to save the life of the woman. Senior 
minister of the Judson Memorial Church in New York City, Reverend 
Howard R. Moody, along with social justice activist Arlene Carmen, 
recognized that women needed reliable information on how and where to 
obtain safe, albeit illegal, abortions. With a small group of ministers 
and rabbis, Reverend Moody founded the Clergy Service. The New York 
Times ran the statement announcing the service.

       ``Confronted with a difficult decision and means of 
     implementing it, women today are forced by ignorance, 
     misinformation and desperation into courses of action that 
     require humane concern on the part of religious leaders.''

  The statement continued:

       ``We believe that it is our pastoral responsibility and 
     religious duty to give aid and assistance to all women with 
     problem pregnancies. To that end we are establishing a 
     Clergymen's Consultation Service on Abertion which will 
     include referral to the best available medical advice and aid 
     to women in need.''

  Following the announcement, the Clergy Service was inundated with 
calls and visitors from around the country seeking assistance. From its 
inception until 1970 the service grew from 26 ministers and rabbis in 
New York to 2,000 clergy in 25 States referring almost 100,000 women to 
doctors.
  I commend Reverend Moody and the clergy men and women who joined the 
service over the years. Their selfless service is an inspiration to all 
who honor women as moral decision-makers and all who seek dignity and 
justice for women.

                          ____________________