Expressing outrage at the proposed restrictions on abortion and other women's health issues in the health care reform bill now under way, the Rev. Rosemarie Newberry gave a brief history of the issue in her Sunday Morning Dialog. From Roe v. Wade through the Hyde Amendment, she described the ups and downs of governmental control of reproductive care, including the lack of availability of RU 40, of the "morning after pill" and the continuing criminalization of late term abortions even as medical necessities.

In the 1890's, there were approximately two million abortions in the US. and today there are about one-half million. Widespread use of contraception is partially responsible. Still 85% of the counties in the U.S. have no abortions available and the other 15% are mainly in urban areas, not accessible to many women.

Stating the Medicare and Medicaid as of now provide very little reproductive care for poor women, Newberry vowed to continue her nearly lifelong fight to broaden this coverage. She said that as a mother, a Unitarian Universalist and a minister she will continue to support the work of Planned Parenthood and to attend the upcoming March on Washington to help make her concern a reality.