Emily Kane is a former Legislative Assistant at the Religious Action Center. She is currently a student of the University of Arizona, James E. Rogers College of Law.

I am a conference kinda’ gal. I think it’s the little plastic insert nametag necklaces that keep me coming back. Through friends at the RAC, I heard about the Law Students for Choice (LSFC) Conference that took place on March 10 and 11 in Northern California. I knew I had to go because not only am I a conference gal, but I am a “choice” gal, a N. California gal, and now a law gal too. More, I received a scholarship from the Spiritual Youth for Reproductive Freedom (SYRF) to attend. It was b’sheret.

This years conference – themed, “Many Voices One Vision: Reclaiming our Rights” – had many speakers: scholars, activists, attorneys, some a medley of all three. Despite their varied backgrounds, each focused on communication: how can we most effectively communicate our message both internally and as advocates? Many panelists offered insights: we need to gravitate away from “choice” because it doesn’t resonate with the younger generation; the movement’s rhetoric must focus on women’s autonomy; we need to pay attention to polling when picking our words; and (my favorite) government oversight for reproductive healthcare should resemble regulation of the airplane industry – the government cannot tell someone when or where to fly, but they are partially responsible for stabilized prices, safety, and accessibility.

A major lesson? It is hard to pinpoint fluid, easy, passionate language to use as an advocate in this debate. However, one of the speakers came pretty close. Loretta Ross (National Coordinator of SisterSong (www.sistersong.net/) and National Co-Director of the 2004 March for Women’s Lives) shared her phrase of choice – “reproductive justice.” As a former RAC Legislative Assistant, I thought this squared nicely with the Reform Movement’s agenda. Reproductive justice highlights the need for access to reproductive healthcare for all people regardless of geographical location, financial situation, or background. Reproductive justice puts a premium on education so that individuals can make informed decisions about their bodies and their ballots. Reproductive justice applies not only to the struggle within the United States, but addresses global reproductive health concerns. Reproductive justice represents the type of imperative that many of us feel regarding this issue and have difficulty articulating. No one at the conference (nor I) advised dropping “choice” from our vernacular. Rather, give choice a new friend; “reproductive justice” will be an excellent addition to your rhetorical bag of tricks. On days when you’re feeling a little lonely in your struggle, make sure to use it. It is guaranteed to remind you why you continue to fight.

Law students without a LSFC chapter on your campus can get connected and start your own! For those spending the summer in Washington, DC – sign onto the LSFC listserv and meet with likeminded law students for discussion panels, speakers, etc. If you are interested in integrating resources from the religious community you can of course look to the RAC, and also check out Spiritual Youth for Reproductive Freedom (SYRF).

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Cara Fisher is a Legislative Assistant at the Religious Action Center. She is a graduate of University of Texas-Austin.

The National Association of Evangelicals (NAE) recently endorsed an anti-torture statement, publicly opposing the use of torture by the U.S. government in the interrogation of terrorist suspects.  For a summary of this statement, visit Evangelicals for Human Rights.  

Additionally, this interesting blog posting on GetReligion.org highlights the lack of media coverage surrounding the NAE’s anti-torture statement. 

The Union for Reform Judaism, which passed a resolution at the 2005 Biennial opposing the use of torture by the U.S. government under all circumstances, is a participating member of the National Religious Campaign Against Torture (NRCAT).  To sign NRCAT’s statement of conscience, click here. 

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Naomi Greenspan is a Program Associate for the Commission on Interreligious Affairs. She holds a degree from St. Louis Washington University.

This is the question asked by former Senator John Danforth (R-MO), also an ordained Episcopal priest, in his essay “Faith and Politics: Are Christians Reconcilers or Dividers?” (from FaithStreams, an online resource on faith-related subjects through Faith & Values Media).

Comparing Christian teachings to today’s political reality, Danforth argues that we cannot define “the Christian political agenda” by any one set of policies. Rather, Christians must take their overarching religious values and apply those principles to their political views. Today’s environment, which sets a tone of you’re either on “my side” or “against God,” divides the community into the “good” and the “bad,” “us” versus “them.” This black and white way of thinking turns the country away from the Christian value of reconciliation and assumes that one’s own perception of the truth is greater than that of God’s truth.

Danforth raises a question for us as Jews about what it means to advocate for “the Jewish political agenda.” Is there one set of policies or one way to vote to express Jewish values? What does our tradition teach us about reconciliation and is it important for us to create an atmosphere of respect for opinions different from our own? These questions are especially important to ask as we discuss issues within the Jewish community such as the war in Iraq, Israel, and gay rights, among others.

The decision of whether religion will be a source of unity or division in our society is up to each of us. More than just a matter of interreligious unity, it is also a question of intrareligious acceptance. As Christians and Jews we each face this challenge, but by drawing on our own as well as one another’s support and teachings we can find a way to engage in these discussions openly and honestly.

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Gwen Litvak is a Legislative Assistant at the Religious Action Center. She is a graduate of UCLA.

“With the efforts to rebuild already happening at a snail’s pace, now is hardly the time for the just rebuilding of the Gulf Coast to be on the back burner of national priorities for America. Lives are at stake and so is the soul of our nation.”

--“Report Card, The Triumph and Struggles in the Just Rebuilding of the Gulf Coast”

The National Council of Churches USA recently released “Report Card: The Triumphs and Struggles in the Just Rebuilding of the Gulf Coast.” The report grades local, state, and federal services agencies’ functioning after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, and grades the current efficacy of such programs. At a time when President Bush notably failed to mention the recovery effort in his State of the Union address, and news coverage is turning away from the disaster and toward the 2008 presidential election, NCC’s report is a valuable reminder of the injustice and turmoil that contextualizes the recovery effort.

“Report Card” is equally valuable for its recommendations that those who live in affected regions be able to participate in the rebuilding plan and that congregations facilitate this dialogue by investing time and effort in community organizations that enable all voices to be heard. For example, the cost of living in New Orleans and other affected areas is rising, but little has been done to plan for affordable housing and well-paying jobs for those who have already moved back. “Report Card” draws attention to these issues of growth and establishes the premise that residents who live in New Orleans deserve the right to self-sufficiency, quality education, and access to basic health services.

Ultimately, by highlighting major failings of the recovery effort thus far, “Report Card” asks rhetorical questions that act as a platform for action. Where is more funding needed? Where have our public policies failed? How can I help make sure such tragedies do not happen again? I encourage everyone to read NCC’s “Report Card” and continue to keep in mind these issues of injustice.

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Elissa Froman is a Legislative Assistant at the Religious Action Center. She is a graduate of George Washington University.

Today, March 8 th, marks the 99 th annual International Women's Day This day celebrates the contribution of individual women of significance and also honors communities of women striving to improve their economic, social and political situation. (http://www.un.org/ecosocdev/geninfo/women/womday97.htm).

Yet this day gives us an opportunity to reflect and pause to consider all of the many important tasks remaining before us as we seek to improve the well-being on women around the world. At the top of this list, is ensuring that health care is available for all women and that essential family planning resources like sexuality education and contraception, are available to every family.

This afternoon, Rabbi Amy Schwartzman of Temple Rodef Shalom in Northern Virginia, will be helping to achieve these goals by speaking at a briefing on Capitol Hill with Rev. Elenora Giddings Ivory, Director of the Washington Office of the Presbyterian Church, Jim Winkler, General Secretary of the United Methodist Church, Nickie Babyeva, a youth advocate from Azerbaijan, and Representatives Betty McCollum (D-MN) and Jim Ramstad (R-MN).

The briefing is entitled: Healthy Women, Healthy Families: Religious Leaders Speak Out on International Women’s Day. It will focus specifically on a bill entitled Focus on Family Health World Wide. (http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c109:H.R.4188.IH:)

Capitol Hill isn’t the only place where International Women’s Day will be observed this year. Events are happening all over the world. See the list of events (http://www.internationalwomensday.com/events.asp) to find one in your country, region or city.

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David Saperstein is the Director and Counsel of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism.

From the Washington Post's "On Faith" Blog.

March 4th