August 19, 2015
Dear Governor Brown and members of the California Senate:
As people of faith, we are writing to encourage you to support The Reproductive FACT Act (AB
775).
The faith community in California encompasses a wide range of views on reproductive rights. The state can best support the freedom to express those views and bring them into practice by helping women access whichever health care they choose without burdensome cost or delay.
Our state has established itself as a national leader by providing programs to help low-income
Californians receive reproductive health care. If women do not know these programs exist, they may delay seeking care. Decisions around pregnancy and planning a family are some of the most profound decisions a woman will make, and she must know that money doesn’t need to be a barrier to making the choice that is best for her. By helping connect women with reproductive health programs as quickly as possible, we ensure better health outcomes for women and children.
The importance of these decisions also means that women should know as much as possible about the facilities and people from whom they seek counsel. AB 775 ensures that women will know whether they are receiving advice from a licensed medical professional.
Under the Reproductive FACT Act, California women can seek the same religious counseling and support they currently find at any facility in California. It does not require anyone to recommend or refer for any services that he or she finds morally objectionable. By connecting more women with affordable reproductive health care, this bill preserves religious freedom for all people of faith in California. Whatever our beliefs, no one should be afraid of giving women neutral information that empowers them to make smart decisions and helps them get affordable health care.
We wish for our congregants and members to lead the lives that they determine for themselves to be the happiest and healthiest, in consultation with their families, doctors and faith communities.
The Reproductive FACT Act allows them to do that without impediment. We respectfully ask you to support AB 775.
Sincerely,
Catholics for Choice
Washington, DC

Rev. Stephen McHale
Christ Episcopal Church*
Alameda
The Rev. Fran Gardner-Smith
Holy Spirit Church: Episcopal Shared Ministry in Contra Costa County*
Antioch
Rev. Heather J. Branton
Community Church of Atascadero, United Church of Christ*
Atascadero
The Rev. Blaine R. Hammond
St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church
Ben Lomond
Rev. Dr. Sue Magidson
Unitarian Universalist Church of Berkeley*
Berkeley
Latishia A.V. James, Master of Divinity Candidate
Pacific School of Religion*
Berkeley
Rabbi Yoel Kahn
Rabbi Rebekah Stern
Congregation Beth El*
Berkeley
Alanda Shindler
Kol Hadash, Northern California Community for Humanistic Judaism*
Berkeley
Rabbi Laura Geller
Rabbi Sarah Bassin
Temple Emanuel of Beverly Hills*
Rabbi Paul Kipnes
Congregation Or Ami*
Calabasas
Rev. Kathleen McShane
Campbell United Methodist Church
Rev. Mike Young
Emerson Unitarian Universalist Church
Canoga Park

Pastor Madison T. Shockley II
Pilgrim United Church of Christ
Carlsbad
The Rev. Mary Hudak
The Episcopal Church*
Carmichael
Rev. Ann Marie Coleman
Disciples Justice Action Network*
Claremont
Rev. Dr. Sarah Halverson-Cano
Fairview Community Church*
Costa Mesa
Karen Marcus
Temple Akiba Sisterhood*
Culver City
Rabbi Greg Wolfe
Congregation Bet Haverim*
Davis
Stephanie Nygard, Western Area Director
NA’AMAT USA
Encino
Robin Carlson, Commissioned Minister of Religious Education
Community United Church of Christ
Fresno
Elder Suzanne Darweesh
St. Mark Presbyterian Church*
Fullerton
Dr. David A. Smith
Irvine United Congregational Church*
Irvine
Catherine Coleman
Lafayette Orinda Presbyterian*
Lafayette
Rabbi Judy Shanks
Temple Isaiah*
Lafayette

Chrisanne Blankenship-Billings
Unitarian Universalist Church of Long Beach
Long Beach
Linda C. Fox
National Council of Jewish Women, Long Beach
Long Beach
Rev. Scott Bartlett
Bethel Lutheran ELCA*
Los Angeles
Rabbi Sharon Brous
IKAR*
Los Angeles
Rev. Anne G. Cohen
Mt. Hollywood United Church of Christ
Los Angeles
Shelli Dodell, Board President
Maya Paley, Director of Legislative and Community Engagement
National Council of Jewish Women, Los Angeles
Los Angeles
Rabbi Morley T. Feinstein
Rabbi Allen Freehling
Cantor Keith Spencer-Shapiro
University Synagogue
Los Angeles
Isabelle Gunning
Agape International Spiritual Center*
Los Angeles
Rabbi Eli Herscher
Stephen Wise Temple*
Los Angeles
Anjuli Kronheim Katz, Regional Organizer
Bend the Arc Southern California
Los Angeles
Rabbi Jonathan Klein
Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice*
Los Angeles

Rabbi Heather Miller
Beth Chayim Chadashim*
Los Angeles
Leah Newman, Senior Regional Director
Pacific Western Region, BBYO*
Los Angeles
Rabbi Joel Simonds
Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism*
Los Angeles
Ani Zonneveld, Founder & President
Muslims for Progressive Values
Los Angeles
Rabbi Melanie Aron
Congregation Shir Hadash*
Los Gatos
Rev. Dr. Catherine J.A. Hall
St. Benedict’s Episcopal Church*
Los Osos
Rev. Kent Doss
Tapestry Unitarian Universalist Congregation*
Mission Viejo
Rev. Darcy Baxter
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Stanislaus County
Modesto
Rev. Michael Schiefelbein
College Avenue United Church of Christ
Modesto
Rabbi Debbie Israel
Congregation Emeth*
Morgan Hill
Rev. Matt Broadbent
United Church of Christ
Mountain View
Beryl Smith
St. Mark Presbyterian Church*
Newport Beach

Rabbi Shawna Brynjegard-Bialik
Temple Ahavat Shalom*
Northridge
Rabbi Ahud Sela
Temple Ramat Zion*
Northridge
Karen Delara
First Presbyterian Church*
Oakland
Dennis Fagaly, Moderator
First Congregational Church of Oakland
Oakland
Manie Grewal, Policy and Organizing Manager
Forward Together
Oakland
Archbishop A. Aurea Lewis
Urojas Community Services*
Oakland
Rev. Dr. Eileen Altman
First Congregational Church of Palo Alto*
Palo Alto
The Rev. Frances Hall Kieschnick
The Beatitudes Society*
Palo Alto
Rev. Tera Little
Throop Unitarian Universalist Church
Pasadena
The Rev. Canon Susan Russell
Juliana Serrano, Senior Associate for Peace & Justice and Office for Creative Connections
All Saints Church
Pasadena
Rev. Mary Foran
David Dodd, Founding Member
Unitarian Universalists of Petaluma*
The Rev. Susan Champion
Christ the Lord Episcopal Church*
Pinole

Rabbi Dr. Laurence Elis Milder
Congregation Beth Emek*
Pleasanton
Rev. R. Richard Roe
Ladera Community Church, UCC*
Portola Valley
Rabbi Suzanne Singer
Temple Beth El*
Riverside
Rev. Elizabeth Griswold
Parkside Community Church, UCC
Sacramento
Claire Lipschultz, Esq.
National Council of Jewish Women, California
Sacramento
The Rev. Dr. Rick Schlosser
California Council of Churches IMPACT
Sacramento
Dr. Lee Rossi
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Redwood City*
San Carlos
The Rev. J. Lee Hill Jr.
Christian Fellowship Congregational Church of San Diego (UCC)*
San Diego
Dr. Donna Lindsey
United Church of Christ*
San Diego
Rev. Kathleen Owens
First Unitarian Universalist Church of San Diego*
San Diego
Rev. Sandie Richards
San Fernando Valley First United Methodist Church*
San Fernando
The Rev. Canon Sally Bingham
The Regeneration Project*
San Francisco

Maya Brodkey, Community Programs Coordinator
Keshet
San Francisco
Patricia Cunningham, Priest-in-charge
Trinity St. Peter’s Episcopal
San Francisco
Rev. Dr. Paul D. Fromberg
St. Gregory of Nyssa Episcopal Church
San Francisco
Rev. Alyson Jacks
First Unitarian Universalist Society of San Francisco*
San Francisco
The Rev. John Kirkley
St. James Episcopal Church*
San Francisco
Rabbi Jessica Oleon Kirschner
Union for Reform Judaism*
San Francisco
Sophia Lanza-Weil
Bend the Arc: A Jewish Partnership for Justice- Bay Area
San Francisco
Laura Magnani, Program Director, Healing Justice
American Friends Service Committee
San Francisco
Rabbi Sydney Mintz
Congregation Emanu-El
San Francisco
Rev. Dr. Karen Oliveto, Senior Pastor
Glide Memorial Church
San Francisco
Rev. Merida Wilson, MA, BCC
St. John’s United Church of Christ
San Francisco
Revd. John L. Freesemann
Holy Redeemer Lutheran Church*
San Jose

Rev. Dr. J. Thomas Gough
First Congregational Church of San Jose
San Jose
Rev. Dr. Rebecca Irelan
Willow Glen United Methodist Church*
San Jose
Rev. Nicole Lamarche
Silicon Valley Progressive Faith Community
San Jose
Rabbi Ruth Adar
Coffee Shop Rabbi
San Leandro
The Rev. Amber Sturgess
St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church
San Luis Obispo
Pamela Gehrke
Unitarian Universalists of San Mateo*
San Mateo
E. Wright
The G.R.E.E.N. Foundation
Santa Ana
Catherine Gentile, Co-Chair, Peace & Social Justice Committee
Unitarian Universalist Community Church of Santa Monica
Santa Monica
Cassandra B. Lista
Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Santa Rosa*
Santa Rosa
The Rev. Channing Smith
Saint Andrew’s Episcopal Church*
Saratoga
Rabbi Howard Laibson
Congregation Shir Chadash, Lakewood*
Seal Beach
Mary Larson, President
California Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice
Seal Beach

The Rev. Kathryn Galicia
St. Francis Episcopal Church
Turlock
The Very Rev. Mack Olson
Church of the Epiphany
Vacaville
Marjorie Lacey
Palomar Unitarian-Universalist Fellowship
Vista
Bishop Warner H. Brown, Jr.
California-Nevada Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church
West Sacramento
* organization/congregation name is for identification purposes only