Catholics for Choice is a pro-choice Catholic organization based in Washington, D.C. Formed in 1973, CFC states that its mission is “to serve as a voice for Catholics who believe that the Catholic tradition supports a woman’s moral and legal right to follow her conscience in matters of sexuality and reproductive health.”
CFC describes its mission “to shape and advance sexual and reproductive ethics that are based on justice, reflect a commitment to women’s well-being and respect and affirm the capacity of women and men to make moral decisions about their lives. CFC works in the United States and internationally to ensure that all people have access to safe and affordable reproductive health-care services and to infuse our core values into public policy, community life and Catholic social teaching and thinking.”
CFC writes that they “are part of the great majority who believes that Catholic teachings on conscience mean that every individual must follow his or her own conscience – and respect others’ right to do the same.”
Jon O’Brien, president of Catholics for Choice has said “The Catholic hierarchy’s powerful lobby plays a huge role in influencing public policy and affects everyone, Catholic or not, by limiting the availability of reproductive health-care services worldwide.” Pope Francis is now urging “responsible parenthood.” But unlike a majority of Catholics, he is against birth control.
So, is it possible to be a faithful Catholic and support women’s health rights, contraception and abortion? According to Catholics for Choice, and Katie Breslin, staff member of the organization, it is a matter of “conscience.” According to O’Brien “The majority of Catholics support the rights of conscience, religious liberty and human dignity for all. We strive to create a world where all women and men are trusted to make moral decisions about their lives.”
For more information about this dedicated organization that helps ordinary Catholics challenge the power of the Catholic hierarchy, go tohttp://www.CatholicsForChoice.org.
This episode originally aired February 16, 2015 and the post originally appeared here.
