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Religion & Reproductive Rights
The ACLU has a long history of protecting religious liberties and reproductive rights. From insurance plans to pharmacy counters, learn more about the ACLU's work on the intersection of these rights.
LATEST NEWS
> Bush Administration Blocks Medical Services For Immigrant Teens In U.S. Care (11/17/2008)
> ACLU Calls Again for Withdrawal of Regulations Jeopardizing Women’s Health (9/26/2008)
NEWS & OPINION
> SCOTUS Denies Review of NY Law (10/1/2007)
> TomPaine: The Wafer & The Pill (10/25/2006)
> Insurers Must Cover Contraceptives (10/19/2006)
REPORTS
> Religious Refusals and Reproductive Rights (2002)
> Executive Summary (2002)

Refusals at the Pharmacy
Each year, millions of women purchase birth control at their local pharmacies. News reports increasingly include stories about pharmacists or pharmacies refusing to sell contraception based on a religious objection. In Religious Refusals and Reproductive Rights: Accessing Birth Control at the Pharmacy, the ACLU offers a roadmap for protecting women’s health care needs and individual religious liberty. Find out what you can do if faced with a refusal at the pharmacy.
NEWS & BLOG POSTINGS
> BLOG: Defending WA Pharmacy Regs (8/15/2007)
> BLOG: Refusals at the Pharmacy (4/18/2007)
> NY Pharmacist Should Be Disciplined (4/5/2007)
> ACLU Applauds New Wal-Mart Policy (4/4/2007)
> ACLU Supports Discipline of Pharmacist (2/5/2007)

Bush Administration Blocks Medical Services For Immigrant Teens In U.S. Care (11/17/2008)
NEW YORK – The American Civil Liberties Union today asked a federal court to order the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) to release documents outlining U.S. policy limiting refugee and undocumented teenagers' access to important reproductive health services, including contraceptives and abortion. The ACLU filed today's legal papers after ACF ignored a Freedom of Information Act request from the ACLU dated August 19, 2008.

ACLU Calls Again for Withdrawal of Regulations Jeopardizing Women’s Health (09/26/2008)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union and all its state affiliates, including Washington, DC, and Puerto Rico, submitted comments to the Department of Health and Human Services asking the administration to rescind regulations that could seriously undermine access to reproductive health services, including birth control and abortion.

Proposed Bush Regulation Jeopardizes Women’s Health (08/21/2008)
WASHINGTON -- The American Civil Liberties Union today expressed its grave concern over the proposed regulations released today by the Department of Health and Human Services that could seriously undermine women’s ability to access reproductive health services, including birth control.

ACLU Asks Government to Investigate Evidence of Taxpayer Dollars Funding Religion in Oregon Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage Program (05/03/2007)
SALEM, Ore. – The American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Oregon today asked the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Oregon Department of Human Services (DHS) to investigate evidence of misuse of taxpayer dollars to promote one faith over others in an abstinence-only-until-marriage program Stop and Think. The groups threatened to pursue legal action if HHS and DHS fail to take sufficient measures within the month.

ACLU of Florida Applauds New Wal-Mart Policy Requiring its Pharmacies to Fill Valid Requests for Birth Control (04/04/2007)
MIAMI – The American Civil Liberties Union of Florida today applauded a decision by Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., requiring the national retail chain’s pharmacies to satisfy valid requests for birth control, including emergency contraception (EC). The policy shift came in response to Planned Parenthood Federation of America’s “Fill My Pills Now!” campaign, in which the ACLU of Florida participated.

Religious Refusals and Reproductive Rights: Accessing Birth Control at the Pharmacy Order Form (04/30/2007)

Religious Refusals and Reproductive Rights: Accessing Birth Control at the Pharmacy: Frequently Asked Questions (04/30/2007)

Religious Refusals and Reproductive Rights: Accessing Birth Control at the Pharmacy Evaluation (04/30/2007)

Victories on the Coasts: Courts Uphold Balance Between Reproductive Rights and Religious Freedom (04/18/2007)

Religious Refusals and Reproductive Rights: Accessing Birth Control at the Pharmacy (04/17/2007)

ACLUF v. Department of Health and Human Services, et al. - Complaint for Injunctive Relief (11/17/2008)

Contract for Stop and Think abstinence-only-until-marriage program (05/03/2007)

Letter to HHS Re: Notice of Constitutional Violations in Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage Programs (05/03/2007)

Letter to DHS Re: Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage Funding for Lane Pregnancy Support Center (05/03/2007)

Brief for Amici Curiae New York Civil Liberties Union and American Civil Liberties Union in Support of Respondent Serio (01/12/2006)
Amici urge the Court to affirm the lower court's holding that the Women's Health and Wellness Act does not violate the United States or New York constitutions. The Act is a comprehensive antidiscrimination and public health statute that requires insurance plans to cover women's preventive health needs equitably. Among its other requirements, which include mandating coverage for mammograms, cervical cancer screenings, and osteoporosis tests, WHWA requires insurance plans that include prescription drug benefits to cover contraceptive drugs and devices.

ACLU Comments on Health and Human Service's Proposed Rule Change Regarding Provider Conscience Regulation (09/25/2008)

ACLU Letter to Congress Asking Members to Oppose Appropriation of Funds for Abstinence-Only-Until Marriage Programs (06/20/2006)

ACLU Memo to Interested Persons Regarding Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage Programs (03/01/2006)

ACLU Letter to Senate Appropriations Committee Opposing Funding for Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage Programs (07/13/2005)

ACLU Letter to Senate Opposing Abstinence-Only-Until Marriage Programs (07/11/2005)

Refusals at the Pharmacy: What You Can Do if Faced with a Refusal at the Pharmacy (04/17/2007)

Abstinence-Only Education in the Courts (12/02/2003)
From SIECUS Report, volume 31, number 6 (Fall 2003)

Helping Teens Make Healthy and Responsible Decisions about Sex (06/16/2008)
Promoting Reproductive Freeedom for Teenagers

Ensuring Access to Emergency Contraception After Rape (02/13/2007)
Guaranteeing Access to Contraception

Hospital Mergers: The Threat to Reproductive Health Services (12/31/1995)
Maintaining Reproductive Health Services

Hospital Mergers and the Curtailment of Reproductive Health Services (06/01/1995)
Maintaining Reproductive Health Services