In 1973, the United States Supreme Court ruled that a pregnant person’s right to an abortion is protected under the Constitution. For nearly 50 years, women had the choice to make decisions about their own bodies. But the reversal of this landmark decision in 2022 has paved the way for dangerous attacks on reproductive freedom.  

Currently, abortion is illegal in 12 states, restricted in 14 U.S. states and territories, and not protected in 4 states and territories. And in 6 states, there are severe restrictions on when a person can get an abortion legally, with many prohibiting the procedure after 6 weeks. It’s not uncommon for people to not know that they are pregnant until after 6 weeks, making this limit both unrealistic and unjust.  

States that ban and criminalize abortion have higher rates of maternal and infant deaths and increased economic insecurity. Pregnancy-related deaths are rising as doctors are afraid of having their license to practice revoked and being jailed for saving lives. For example, in Texas, where abortion is entirely banned and criminalized, rates of sepsis—a life-threatening condition—have risen by more than 50% for lost pregnancies that occurred in the second trimester. Historically economically marginalized populations including Black communities, people of color, and low-income communities have particularly diminished access to reproductive healthcare, placing them in greater harm.   

And reproductive access continues to be under attack, including by President Trump. The Hyde Amendment, which first went into effect in 1977, was recently re-instated by President Trump as an executive order. It prohibits the use of federal funds for abortions except in cases of rape, incest, or the pregnant person’s life being in danger. However, even when an abortion is deemed medically necessary to save a person’s life, this amendment has failed to protect pregnant people.  

This patchwork of state and administrative attacks on reproductive freedoms has now morphed into a mosaic of partisan initiatives spanning access to contraceptives, emergency medical care, and even in vitro fertilization, raising broader questions about women’s bodily autonomy in 2025. The movement in favor of abortion bans has fundamentally broadened its scope and threatens all people’s human rights. 

We know that when women and girls have full bodily autonomy and reproductive freedom their families and communities thrive. This is evident in the U.S. and around the world. For over 40 years, the United Church of Christ has affirmed and supported women’s access to the full range of reproductive health care, including abortion. There is a need for faithful and strong response affirming an individual’s self-determination for their own body. In fact, the majority of people of faith support abortion legality. Abortion bans do not reflect the will of the American people.  

The Women’s Health Protection Act would safeguard access to abortion and the full range of reproductive healthcare. This includes protections from political or religious interference and protections from state and federal legislation that impose medically unnecessary regulations on access to abortion services including medication, mandatory waiting periods, or full abortion bans.  

Urge your members of Congress to re-introduce and pass the Women’s Health Protection Act today to stop the rollback of reproductive rights!