Resolution Adopted by the CCAR
On Abortion and the Hyde Amendment
Adopted by the CCAR at the 95th Annual Convention of
the Central Conference of American Rabbis
Grossingers, New York, June 18-21, 1984
Whereas
the Central Conference of American Rabbis has gone on record in 1967, 1975, and 1980
in affirming the right of a woman or individual family to terminate a pregnancy;
and,
Whereas
the Central Conference of American Rabbis opposes amendments and legislation that
would abridge or circumscribe this right; and
Whereas
the so-called Hyde Amendment restricts the use of Medicaid funds for abortion; and
other amendments have had a similar effect in other federal programs, so that a woman
dependent on government health care cannot obtain a medically necessary abortion
even if she is the victim of rape or incest or if her health is seriously jeopardized by
continuation of the pregnancy; and
Whereas
these restrictions have created greater health risks for poor women who have conscientiously
chosen abortion but must delay the procedure while seeking private funds to pay for
it; and
Whereas
freedom of choice in the issue of abortion is directly related to the First Amendment’s
guarantee of religious freedom,
Therefore be it resolved that:
1. The Central Conference of American Rabbis call upon the Congress to defeat the
Hyde Amendment this year; and
2. The Central Conference of American Rabbis support the Fazio-Green legislation which
would eliminate such restrictions in the authorization for all federal governmental
programs.
The following resolutions were referred to the Executive Board, and adopted by the
Board on June 21, 1984: