Contraception

WHEREAS, The AIDS epidemic continues to cause fear and alarm and by estimates of our health officials is becoming a major threat to our society; and

WHEREAS, Medical, legal, educational, and public officials are speaking to this issue and often seem to ignore biblical standards of decency and morality; and

WHEREAS, In response to the AIDS crisis, TV and other forms of advertising, as well as human resource agencies of all types, are currently advocating "safe sex" to include the use of condoms; and

WHEREAS, The permissiveness of the so called new morality has permeated our society and has affected even our churches, and

WHEREAS, We believe that the rights of the family are being infringed upon when information, medication, and supplies are being furnished the unmarried minor-aged children without parental consent.

WHEREAS, The Southern Baptist Convention in annual session in 1977 spoke clearly and forthrightly to the issue of permissiveness as follows:

WHEREAS, The permissiveness of the so-called new morality has permeated our society and has affected even our churches, and

WHEREAS, We believe that the rights of the family are being infringed upon when information, medication, and supplies are being furnished the unmarried minor-aged children without parental consent.

We reaffirm Resolution No. 20--On Permissiveness and Family Planning made by the Southern Baptist Convention meeting in St. Louis, June 12, 1980:    ...

WHEREAS, A continuing permissive attitude in contemporary society toward extramarital sexual activity has precipitated an epidemic of teenage pregnancy; and

WHEREAS, Many public school systems across America believe that the most effective way to combat this problem is to make birth control information and contraceptives widely available to public school students; and

WHEREAS, This mindset has led to the provision of amoral counsel, of contraceptive medications, and devices within the framework of public schools, and

WHEREAS, An increasing number of public school districts are distributing condoms to students through the public schools; and

WHEREAS, These condoms are often distributed without the knowledge and consent of parents; and

WHEREAS, The dangerous myth of "safe sex" continues to claim victims, including young children in public schools; and

WHEREAS, The forced availability of birth control devices to minors violates the rights of parents and guardians, endangers the health and lives of children, and is a violation of the rights of the family.

"Accordingly, abortion for "population control" is repugnant to the Jewish system. Abortion for economic reasons is also not admissible. Taking precaution by abortion or birth control against physical threat remains a mitzvah, but never to forestall financial difficulty. Material considerations are improper in this connection. In the Jewish community, today, with a conscious or unconscious drive to replenish ranks decimated by the Holocaust, contemporary rabbis invoke not the more lenient, but rather the more stringent responsa of the earlier authorities.

"Choose Life " (Deuteronomy 30:19)

Adopted by the 104th Annual Convention of the Central Conference of American Rabbis
Montreal, Quebec, June 1993

Background
Women are short-changed in many aspects of health care, from research and prevention to treatment, access and education. Addressing these inequities is fundamental to women's rights.

Adopted by the 119th Annual Convention of the Central Conference of American Rabbis
Cincinnati, Ohio
April, 2008

Adopted by the Board of Trustees
June, 2001

Background

Jewish texts and tradition do not avoid the topic of sexuality. Ranging from the Song of Songs, the most explicit writing in the Torah, to very specific discussions of the laws of family, our holy texts accept sexuality as a necessary and crucial part of life and development. Further, our modern practice of Judaism views sexuality, and its ultimate goal of a healthy and committed relationship, as a matter of religious concern.