"Why is a church coalition equating government facilitated abortion with health care?" -- Mark Tooley, IRD President

Contact: Jeff Walton, Institute on Religion and Democracy, 202-682-4131, 202-413-5639 cell, jwalton@TheIRD.org

WASHINGTON, Jan. 21, 2011 /Christian Newswire/ -- Timed with the anniversary of the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision that swept away state laws restricting abortion, a coalition of liberal religious groups are campaigning to mandate abortion coverage in upcoming Obamacare state health insurance exchanges.

The Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice (RCRC) opposed proposed abortion funding restrictions during the Obamacare debate. Now the group is promising to bring their "moral force to bear" in ensuring "full coverage of abortion services," arguing that taxpayer-funded state insurance exchanges set to begin in 2014 as part of the 2010 law must offer abortion coverage.

Final passage of the legislation did not prevent abortion coverage in federally funded insurance exchanges, although in what RCRC termed "an unconscionable deal," President Obama signed an executive order that his administration claims will prevent federal funding of abortions. Pro-life legal analysts dispute the executive order's legal force.

RCRC lists among its affiliates the Episcopal Church, the United Church of Christ, agencies of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and The United Methodist Church, along with several liberal Jewish and dissident Roman Catholic groups.

IRD President Mark Tooley commented:

"Why are the United Methodist Church, Presbyterian Church (USA), Episcopal Church and United Church of Christ denominations supporting pro-abortion extremism that even demands tax dollars to facilitate abortions?

"Members of these denominations should demand withdrawal from RCRC and its hostility to traditional Christian protections for all human life.

"Churches should also realize that government control over health care inevitably creates unending challenges to faith-based concepts of human sacredness."