The Clergy Who Fought for Abortion Rights Before Roe
How progressive ministers, rabbis, and priests risked everything to ensure safe abortion access in the pre-Roe era
Abortion has long been framed as a battle between religious conservatives and secular progressives, but history tells a different story. In the 1960s and early 1970s, mainline Protestant ministers, Jewish rabbis, and some Catholic clergy were among the strongest advocates for abortion rights. They viewed their work not as a contradiction of faith, but as a moral obligation—ensuring that women had access to safe medical care instead of life-threatening procedures.
One of the most significant efforts came from the Clergy Consultation Service on Abortion (CCS), a network of religious leaders who took personal and legal risks to help women obtain safe abortions at a time when the procedure was largely illegal. Founded in 1967 by Rev. Howard Moody and 20 other Protestant and Jewish religious leaders, the CCS grew to include 3,000 clergy members across 38 states and helped nearly 450,000 women find competent abortion providers before Roe v. Wade legalized the procedure nationwide.
This movement, though often overlooked, reshaped public attitudes and played a crucial role in advancing reproductive rights. These clergy saw compassion, justice, and dignity as essential to their faith, challenging the idea that Christianity—and religion in general—was inherently opposed to abortion. Moreover, they based their beliefs on the Bible and Talmud.
Today, as abortion rights are once again under siege, their legacy reminds us that faith can be a force for liberation rather than control.
Notable clergy involved included:
Rev. Charles Landreth, a Presbyterian minister who boldly preached on abortion from the pulpit, calling for compassion and justice. He emphasized the Baptist principle of "soul freedom," affirming that individuals have the right to moral and bodily autonomy, with guidance from God—extending this belief to a woman's right to make decisions about her own body. He also cited scripture to argue that life begins at birth, reinforcing the idea that reproductive choices should be left to individual conscience.
Arlene Carmen, as the Jewish administrator of the Judson Memorial Church, she worked alongside Baptist Reverend Howard Moody. Carmen was instrumental in vetting abortion providers to ensure women received safe medical care. She personally visited clinics, pretending to be pregnant to assess the cleanliness, ethics, and pricing of each provider. Her work helped establish the CCS’s trusted referral network, ensuring that women were not exploited or subjected to unsafe procedures. Carmen also played a critical role in legislative discussions when New York moved to legalize abortion, advising against unnecessary restrictions — including the requirement that women meet with clergy before obtaining the procedure.
Rev. Robert Hare, a Presbyterian minister who counseled women facing unwanted pregnancies with compassion and discretion, helping them navigate restrictive abortion laws by connecting them to safe, reliable providers. He was charged as an accessory to abortion, sparking national outcry from religious leaders who argued that abortion counseling was a protected pastoral duty. Though his charges were eventually dropped after Roe v. Wade, his case underscored the risks clergy took to ensure reproductive freedom.
The Moral Imperative Behind Their Work
For these religious leaders, abortion access was not just a political issue but a moral responsibility. They believed that women deserved compassionate, dignified care rather than life-threatening alternatives. Their advocacy played a role in paving the way for Roe v. Wade and laid the foundation for faith-based reproductive rights activism that continues today.
Why This History Matters Today
As abortion rights face renewed threats, the history of clergy-led activism serves as a reminder that faith, reproductive justice are not mutually exclusive. The CCS demonstrated that religious conviction could be a force for liberation rather than oppression.
Their legacy challenges today’s narrative that Christianity is monolithically anti-abortion, showing instead that many religious leaders have long fought for women’s bodily autonomy and dignity.
Today, with abortion access severely restricted or outright banned in many states, a new generation of faith-based networks is carrying forward the mission of the CCS. Organizations like the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice (RCRC), Catholics for Choice, Faith Choice Ohio, and the National Council of Jewish Women advocate for reproductive justice from a spiritual and moral perspective. Clergy members continue to provide counseling, escort patients through protest lines, and help fund access to abortion services in regions where legal barriers make it nearly impossible.
At the same time, religious conservatives enjoy institutional backing that their progressive counterparts lack. Right-wing churches and organizations receive millions in funding from wealthy donors, operate extensive media networks, and exert influence over lawmakers who push anti-abortion policies at every level of government.
Meanwhile, faith leaders who support reproductive rights are often left to organize with fewer resources and greater risks.
Yet majority of Americans prefer we have legal abortion — and that includes a large percentage of the faithful. Most mainline Protestants support abortion access, as do most Catholics (although not their leadership) and most Jews — as well as Hindus, and other Americans of various faiths.
History shows that progressive clergy can make a difference—even against overwhelming opposition. Just as the CCS fought against unjust laws in the past, modern clergy must once again take up the fight for bodily autonomy, dignity, and justice.
Faith has been a tool of oppression, but it can also be a force for liberation. Let’s take hope in the lessons of history and remember this — justice can prevail, even when mighty forces have allied against it.
Hello, Enthusiasts! With M.Div. in hand, I’ve spent the past few decades getting families into permanent housing; helping fund medical, dental and behavioral care; supporting clients in recovery; providing crisis & suicide prevention services; connecting the unhoused with resources; and throwing love at veterans everywhere.
If you’d enjoy a free five-minute silent mediation, with a brief reading and a chat, please drop in on my weekly podcast, 5 Minutes of Peace. You’ll be more grounded, calm, cheerful, and back to your daily schedule in the time it takes to get a cup of coffee.
If you’re feeling flush, please consider tossing a coin into the tip jar. Many thanks, my friend!
Look me up when you’re on BlueSky, LinkedIn, Threads, or Medium!