The Religious Institute offers its prophetic moral voice to the public discourse at the intersection of religion, sexuality, gender, and reproductive health. Below you will find our most recent updates & press releases. For press inquiries or further information about the Religious Institute, please contact our staff at 203-222-0055 or info@religiousinstitute.org. Please click here to join the Religious Institute Press List.

Honoring Mothers Worldwide on Mother’s Day
This Mother’s Day, Honor Mothers Worldwide

Religious Leaders Call “Call to Conscience” Unjust Manhattan Declaration
Ten years ago, a multifaith group of religious leaders issued the Religious Declaration on Sexual Morality, Justice, and Healing, a 500-word call for sexual justice that affirms full inclusion of women and LGBT persons and a faith-based commitment to reproductive rights.

Religious Institute Introduces Guide for Religious Leaders on Public School Sexuality Education
“This new resource is consistent with the administration’s view that young people must receive the information they need to make responsible decisions about their sexual and reproductive health.”

Sexual and Reproductive Health, Rights, & Religion: Partnerships for the Future
"Sexual and Reproductive Health, Rights, & Religion: Partnerships for the Future" was a colloquium held on October, 15 2009 in partnership with the Population Council to encourage dialogue and collaboration among the leaders of international faith-based groups and sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) organizations.

Balancing Acts: Keeping Children Safe in Congregations
Rev. Haffner developed this online manual for the Unitarian Universalist Association. The manual is based on three tenets that indeed present a balancing act, as faith communities develop policies:

2008 Congressional Briefing
More than 925 clergy and national religious leaders have endorsed the Religious Institute’s Open Letter to Religious Leaders about Sex Education, urging the Obama administration to support a new national commitment to comprehensive sexuality education.

2008 Congressional Briefing
On April 23rd, the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform held its first hearing on the “Public Health and Ethical Concerns with Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage Programs and the Need for Comprehensive Sexuality Education.”
The Religious Institute submitted a statement for the hearing that was endorsed by more than 250 clergy and religious leaders, including the heads of four denominations and the leaders of more than 30 national religious organizations.
The hearing took place one month after a Congressional briefing held on March 13, 2008.

Congo Sabbath
The Religious Institute calls on faith communities to help end violence against women in the DRC.
"As faith leaders we are called today to see, hear, and respond to the suffering caused by violence against women. We encourage faith communities to participate in the Congo Sabbath initiative."

Acting Out Loud
ACTING OUT LOUD provides clergy and religious leaders with background on LGBT people, points you to the best-available online resources, and offers ideas and approaches recommended by leading clergy, theologians and advocates across the country.