Religious Committee for the ERA

Last updated
Religious Committee for the ERA
TypeWomen's Rights Organization
PurposeActivist group for the Equal Rights Amendment
Key people
Sister Marjorie Tuite, Sister Mary Luke Tobin

Religious Committee for the ERA was an American women's rights organization active in the late 1970s and early 1980s that advocated for the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA). [1]

Contents

Overview

The Religious Committee for the ERA was an organization of faith based feminists who planned a series of events to raise awareness of the need for an Equal Rights Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The organization had eight founders. [2] The organization included Catholics, Jewish supporters, Quakers, Presbyterians and many others from a wide variety of faith traditions. [1] After the ERA failed to pass in June 1982, the organization changed its name to Religious Network for Equality of Women. [3] They were also known as Renew. [4]

Timeline of political activity

Members

Affiliated organizations

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Equal Rights Amendment</span> Proposed amendment to the U.S. Constitution

The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) is a proposed amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would, if added, explicitly prohibit sex discrimination. It was written by Alice Paul and Crystal Eastman and introduced in Congress in December 1923 as a proposed amendment to the United States Constitution. The purpose of the ERA is to guarantee equal legal rights for all American citizens regardless of sex. Proponents assert it would end legal distinctions between men and women in matters of divorce, property, employment, and other matters. Opponents originally argued it would remove protections that women needed. In the 21st century, opponents argue it is no longer needed and some fear it would be extended to abortion and transgender rights.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sonia Johnson</span> American activist and writer

Sonia Ann Johnson, is an American feminist activist and writer. She was an outspoken supporter of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) and in the late 1970s was publicly critical of the position of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, of which she was a member, against the proposed amendment. She was eventually excommunicated from the church for her activities. She went on to publish several radical feminist books, ran for president in 1984, and become a popular feminist speaker.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alice Paul</span> American suffragist, feminist, and activist (1885–1977)

Alice Stokes Paul was an American Quaker, suffragist, feminist, and women's rights activist, and one of the foremost leaders and strategists of the campaign for the Nineteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which prohibits sex discrimination in the right to vote. Paul initiated, and along with Lucy Burns and others, strategized events such as the Woman Suffrage Procession and the Silent Sentinels, which were part of the successful campaign that resulted in the amendment's passage in August 1920.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Woman's Party</span> American political party (1916–2021)

The National Woman's Party (NWP) was an American women's political organization formed in 1916 to fight for women's suffrage. After achieving this goal with the 1920 adoption of the Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, the NWP advocated for other issues including the Equal Rights Amendment. The most prominent leader of the National Woman's Party was Alice Paul, and its most notable event was the 1917–1919 Silent Sentinels vigil outside the gates of the White House.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eleanor Smeal</span> American feminist leader

Eleanor Marie Smeal is an American women's rights activist. She is the president and a cofounder of the Feminist Majority Foundation and has served as president of the National Organization for Women for three terms, in addition to her work as an activist, grassroots organizer, lobbyist, and political analyst.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Organization for Women</span> American feminist organization

The National Organization for Women (NOW) is an American feminist organization. Founded in 1966, it is legally a 501(c)(4) social welfare organization. The organization consists of 550 chapters in all 50 U.S. states and in Washington, D.C. It is the largest feminist organization in the United States with around 500,000 members. NOW is regarded as one of the main liberal feminist organizations in the US, and primarily lobbies for gender equality within the existing political system. NOW campaigns for constitutional equality, economic justice, reproductive rights, LGBTQIA+ rights and racial justice, and against violence against women.

Maureen Fiedler, SL is an American progressive activist, radio host, and a member of the Sisters of Loretto. She has a long history working with interfaith coalitions on a variety of issues including: social justice, peace, anti-racism work, gender equality, human rights and female ordination in the Catholic Church. She holds a doctorate in Government from Georgetown University. She is the executive producer and host of the radio show Interfaith Voices, which she originated.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mary Luke Tobin</span>

Sister Mary Luke Tobin was an American Roman Catholic religious sister, and one of only 15 women auditors invited to the Second Vatican Council, and the only American woman of the three women religious permitted to participate on the Council's planning commissions. She was inducted into the Colorado Women's Hall of Fame in 1997.

The National Coalition of American Nuns (NCAN) was founded in 1969 by Margaret Traxler and Audrey Kopp. The organization is known for its advocacy for women's rights, support for the Equal Rights Amendment, opposition to the Catholic Church hierarchy, including Pope Francis, as well as its positions on abortion, LGBT rights, and women's ordination.

Fair Wisconsin, previously called Equality Wisconsin is a 501c4 nonprofit civil rights political advocacy organization dedicated to securing equal rights under the law for Wisconsin's LGBTQ+, transgender and non-binary community. The organization focuses on expanding rights for LGBTQ+ and transgender Wisconsinites, most notably working to enshrine same sex marriage protections, HIV/Aids Advocacy and adding gender identity to the states non-discrimination laws. The organization was founded in 1994 as LGBT Center Advocates, consolidating elements of the Domestic Partnership Task Force, the Human Rights League, and the LGBT Alliance for Equality. The organization claims several accomplishments in areas of domestic partner recognition, non-discrimination, and securing greater resources for LGBTQ+ social services.

The feminist movement has affected change in Western society, including women's suffrage; greater access to education; more equitable pay with men; the right to initiate divorce proceedings; the right of women to make individual decisions regarding pregnancy ; and the right to own property.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zoe Nicholson</span> Feminist activist and author

Zoe Nicholson is a feminist activist, author, and a longtime member of the National Organization for Women. Openly lesbian, she is known for her role in the campaign for the Equal Rights Amendment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kate Kelly (feminist)</span> American feminist (born October 29, 1980)

Kathleen Marie Kelly is an American activist, human rights lawyer, and Mormon feminist who founded Ordain Women, an organization advocating for the ordination of women to the priesthood in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Kelly was excommunicated from the church in 2014. She is also a nationally known advocate for ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) and abortion access.

Mormon feminism is a feminist religious social movement concerned with the role of women within Mormonism. Mormon feminists commonly advocate for a more significant recognition of Heavenly Mother, the ordination of women, gender equality, and social justice grounded in Mormon theology and history. Mormon feminism advocates for more representation and presence of women as well as more leadership roles for women within the hierarchical structure of the church. It also promotes fostering healthy cultural attitudes concerning women and girls.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Evelyn Mattern</span>

Sister Evelyn Mattern, a Catholic religious sister, was active in social justice movements in North Carolina from the 1970s until her death in 2003. She was concerned with farmworker's rights, gender equality, and environmental issues. She was known for her life of prayer, contemplation, activism, and protest. Additionally, Sister Evelyn authored books on women mystics, the beatitudes, and the lives of women in ministry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Equality Act (United States)</span> Bill to prohibit sexual orientation and gender identity discrimination in the 117th Congress

The Equality Act is a bill in the United States Congress, that, if passed, would amend the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex, sexual orientation and gender identity in employment, housing, public accommodations, education, federally funded programs, credit, and jury service. The Supreme Court's June 2020 ruling in Bostock v. Clayton County protects gay and transgender people in matters of employment, but not in other respects. The Bostock ruling also covered the Altitude Express and Harris Funeral Homes cases.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Equal Rights Amendment and Utah</span>

From the 1960s through the 1980s, proponents of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) were seeking ratification in each state throughout the United States. Although the Senate approved an unamended version on March 22, 1972, attempts at ratification of the amendment in the state of Utah repeatedly failed. Organizations formed and took positions on both sides of the issue, including the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which was one of the major opponents of the ERA. The Church organized women and other church members in opposition, while also networking with other anti-ERA organizations. The Utah Legislature officially voted down the amendment in 1975. However, Utah still houses a wide variety of organized groups and opinions for and against the Equal Rights Amendment, which remains unratified to the present.

Georgia Fuller is a women's rights activist who was heavily involved in the political struggle for the Equal Rights Amendment in the 1980s. She was a member of the Congressional Union, a feminist group in the 1980s, and was co-founder of the Arlington, Virginia chapter of the National Organization for Women (NOW).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elizabeth Farians</span> American religious studies scholar, activist and feminist

Elizabeth Farians was an American religious studies scholar and feminist. She was an early member the National Organization of Women and is considered the first Catholic feminist to organize public protests and for over forty years she led a public fight against discrimination in religion. Farians was an activist for animal rights and veganism.

Joan M. Martin is a Protestant feminist theologian. Martin has been politically active with a number of different feminist causes and is notable for her 1978 congressional testimony on behalf of the Equal Rights Amendment.

References

  1. 1 2 Brock, Laura E. (2013). "Religion, Sex & Politics: The Story of the Equal Rights Amendment in Florida": 149.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  2. 1 2 "Religious Groups Plan ERA Drive". Journal and Courier. September 18, 1976.
  3. 1 2 "Churchgoers Vow to Fight for Rights". The Sentinel. July 10, 1982.
  4. 1 2 "Religion in America;NEWLN:Churches vow continued fight for equal rights for women". UPI. Retrieved 2022-10-03.
  5. 1 2 "Panel OK's ERA Measure". The Dispatch. May 1, 1980.
  6. "Prayer Vigil for ERA Slated". Southern Illinoisian. April 19, 1982.
  7. 1 2 3 "Church Women Rallying in Push for ERA Passage". The Orlando Sentinel. January 8, 1977.
  8. "El periodico, 1970 Jul.-Nov". www2.mnhs.org. Retrieved 2022-10-03.
  9. Riordan, Patrick (January 21, 1982). "Despite Dim Passage Prognosis, ERA Still Squeezing Out Sparks". The Miami Herald.
  10. "Letters". The New York Times. 1978-12-20. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2022-10-03.
  11. "Natalie Tackett Papers" (PDF).
  12. "ERA Gets Support from 31 Religious Groups". Rocky Mount Telegram. September 19, 1975.
  13. "Local Residents, Clergymen to Show ERA Support with Vigil". Southtown Star. March 21, 1982.
  14. 1 2 3 4 "Church Women Give Support to Women's Equality Day". Lebanon Daily News. August 24, 1979.
  15. "Notre Dame Archives Inventory: CLCW 6". www.archives.nd.edu. Retrieved 2022-10-03.
  16. Williams, Virginia (1995). "LORETTO AND THE WOMEN'S MOVEMENT: From "Sister" to sister" (PDF).