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Abortion
Library

  • Recognizing Conscience in Abortion Provision
    2012
    Writing in the New England Journal of Medicine, Dr. Lisa Harris expresses a view too rarely heard: for some doctors “the failure to offer abortion care generates a crisis of conscience.”
  • London Declaration of Prochoice Principles
    2012
    In September 2012, Jon O’Brien of Catholics for Choice and Ann Furedi of the UK abortion provider bpas convened an international meeting of abortion providers, advocates and academics at Chandos House in London to talk about what it means to be prochoice.

    The statement from the meeting is being discussed in the prochoice community around the world to foster reflection, conversation and our understanding of what it means to support choice.

  • The Facts Tell the Story: Catholics and Choice
    2011, 12 pp.
    “The Facts Tell the Story” provides the latest data about American Catholics’ support for and use of legal abortion, contraception and other reproductive healthcare issues.
  • The Truth About Catholics and Abortion [PDF]
    2011, 12 pp.
    Church teachings on moral decision-making and abortion are complex—far more complex than the bishops would have us believe. This new publication from Catholics for Choice reveals how church teachings leave ample room for Catholics to affirm that abortion can be a moral choice.
  • A Statement on Later Abortion
    2010
    In 2010, Catholics for Choice convened a meeting about later abortion with another organization, Advancing New Standards in Reproductive Health, to provide a chance to discuss a topic even seasoned advocates are not well informed about and to explore what, if anything, can and should be done for women who need later abortions. From this meeting came the following statement—not intended or designed to be an all-encompassing or exhaustive statement but more a moral and ethical assertion as to how we feel about this issue, why we think this issue matters and why in good conscience we must address it.
  • Catholics and Abortion: Notes on Canon Law No. 1 [PDF]
    2010, 13 pp.

    From our popular Notes on Canon Law series, a brief and straightforward analysis of what the Catholic church's canon law says about abortion and what it means for the rights of prochoice Catholics.

  • Reducing the Need for Abortion: Honest Effort or Ideological Dodge? [PDF]
    Conscience Vol. XXX - No. 1 (2009)
    Jon O'Brien, president of Catholics for Choice, raises important questions pertaining to the Obama administration's efforts to reduce the need for abortion.
  • Confronting our Ambivalence: The Need for Second-Trimester Abortion Advocacy [PDF]
    Conscience Vol. XXX - No. 1 (2009)
    Susan Yanow, MSW, discusses the realities facing women who need second-trimester abortions and reaffirms the need for advocacy around later-term abortions.
  • Spaniards’ Views on Abortion-- Analysis of a nationwide public opinion survey in Spain [PDF]
    Click here for the full results of the poll in Spanish.

    November 2009
    The Spanish public is currently engaged in a national debate over potential changes to the nation’s abortion laws. Belden Russonello & Stewart worked with Catholics for Choice to conduct public opinion research on Spaniards’ attitudes toward abortion and their views on Catholic Bishops’ efforts to restrict access to abortion. The short survey reported here is based on 1,001 interviews with Spaniards age 18 and over, conducted from November 10 to 13, 2009.
  • Presenting the Case for Conscience
    25-27 June 2008
    Jon O’Brien, president of Catholics for Choice, gave a keynote speech to leaders working in women’s sexual and reproductive health and rights at the Ipas-sponsored Future of Abortion: Controversies & Care conference. In "Presenting the Case for Conscience," Mr. O’Brien explored what Catholic teachings say about conscience, how abortion is an issue of conscience for women, doctors and the public, and how to maintain services while respecting the consciences of all.
  • Abortion and Women of Color [PDF]
    Conscience Vol. XXIX - No. 3 (2008)
    Susan A. Cohen, director of government affairs at the Guttmacher Institute, sheds light on why abortion rates are higher for women of color.  Cohen explores the complex connection between financial situations, contraceptive use and overall healthcare, and proposes ways to reduce the number of unintended pregnancies.
  • Abortion: Freedom and Responsibility in the 21st Century [PDF]
    Conscience Vol. XXIX - No. 1 (2008)
    Experts discuss many recent developments in the abortion debate, including everything from societal views on sex and internet content to fetal pain and sex-selective abortions.
  • Prevention Drives Today's Prochoice Agenda
    Conscience XXVII - No. 4 (2006)
    Jodi Enda describes prochoice legislators' efforts to focus on prevention of unplanned pregnancies.
  • Rights in the Church: Notes on Canon Law No. 2 [PDF]
    2006, 16 pp.
    Can divorced and remarried Catholics receive communion? Can a prochoice Catholic politician be turned away from the altar? Do parishioners have a right to know how the pastor and bishop are spending their contributions? The second in CFC's popular Notes on Canon Law series provides guidance on what rights policy makers and individuals have under the Catholic church's canon law.
  • A World View: Catholic Attitudes on Sexual Behavior and Reproductive Health [PDF]
    2004, 28 pp.

    An indispensable report that provides opinion data, demographical information and behaviors of Catholics from dozens of countries around the world. While the institutional Roman Catholic church—at the global, national and local levels—exerts substantial influence on public policy and even medical practices in reproductive health, the data reveal that the policies advocated by the pope and bishops do not reflect the diversity of attitudes and practices among Catholic people themselves. On contraception, abortion, condoms for HIV-prevention and other matters of family life, Catholic attitudes and behavior often clash with church teaching.

  • Attitudes of Catholics on Reproductive Rights, Church-State & Related Issues: Three National Surveys in Bolivia, Colombia & Mexico (The Latin America Poll) [PDF]
    2004, 45 pp.

    Three national surveys in Bolivia, Colombia and Mexico that reveal the attitudes of Catholics on priorities for the church, the role of the church in political affairs, sexual and reproductive health and rights, sexual abuse and more.

  • Reflections of a Catholic Theologian Visiting an Abortion Clinic [PDF]
    2000, 11 pp.
    Catholic theologian Daniel Maguire explores his thoughts, feelings and reactions upon visiting a women’s health clinic.
  • You Are Not Alone: Information for Catholic Women on the Abortion Decision [PDF]
    2000, 7 pp.

    One of CFFC's most popular publications, this guide for Catholic women considering the abortion decision provides information, valuable advice and answers to difficult questions.

  • Roe v. Wade, The Next Twenty-Five Years: From Rear Guard to Avant-Garde
    Conscience Vol. XVIII - No. 4 (1998)
    Frances Kissling reflects on Roe v. Wade at 25.

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