June 17, 2022 Des Moines, IA – Connie Ryan, Executive Director of the Interfaith Alliance of Iowa, released the following statement on today’s Iowa Supreme Court decision regarding the right to an abortion: “Making decisions about your own body is as fundamental of an equal protection as it gets. What happens to your body, who has a say over your body, what kinds of medical procedure you endure, and who makes those decisions. It is as fundamental, and frankly sacred, a right that must be protected under law and the US and Iowa constitutions. “We are profoundly disappointed in the decision today by Iowa’s highest court. In the end, Iowans lost. “Let’s be clear. The court may have taken a sledgehammer to the rights of women and those who need abortion care, but the court will not stop the need or abortions. The court will only impact legal, timely abortions. “Conservative, rightwing advocates --- and their followers in the Iowa Legislature, executive, and judicial branches --- have harmed the rights of Iowans today. But Iowans are not done and will have a say in this matter. “Iowans of all faiths and beliefs believe in the right to bodily autonomy and reproductive freedom --- including legal, medically safe abortion. There is no question on that. “The question is whether independent politicians will listen to Iowans, and whether the court truly believes in and advocates for equal protections under the law as written in Iowa’s sacred constitution, or not.”
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