Synopses & Reviews
Good Catholics tells the story of the remarkable individuals who have engaged in a nearly fifty-year struggle to assert the moral legitimacy of a pro-choice position in the Catholic Church, as well as the concurrent efforts of the Catholic hierarchy to suppress abortion dissent and to translate Catholic doctrine on sexuality into law. Miller recounts a dramatic but largely untold history of protest and persecution, which demonstrates the profound and surprising influence that the conflict over abortion in the Catholic Church has had not only on the church but also on the very fabric of U.S. politics.
Good Catholics addresses many of todayand#8217;s hot-button questions about the separation of church and state, including what concessions society should make in public policy to matters of religious doctrine, such as the Catholic ban on contraception.
Good Catholics is a Gold Medalist (Womenand#8217;s Issues) in the 2015 IPPY awards, an award presented by the Independent Publishers Book Association to recognize excellence in independent book publishing.
Review
"Anyone interested in discovering how and why the abortion issue is so inextricably tied up with Catholicism will be fascinated by this important work."
Review
"Patricia Miller's excellent new book deals primarily with the top-down leadership of the Vatican and the bishops, who, it should be very clear, do not represent the views of most Catholics but are able to spook many politicians into thinking otherwise. . . . Five stars."
Review
"The book will likely give off sparks. But if these sparks inspire people to study this potent moral question in an informed manner, it will have done a service to those on both sides of the divide -- and Miller's book is a good place to begin that study."
Review
"While evangelical Christians ultimately brought down the contraception mandate, [Miller shows] they had big help from Catholics."
Review
"[Miller] describes the influence the Catholic Church has had on the U.S. political system regarding abortion and argues that Catholics have the right to disagree with Church leadership. The book lends a voice to Catholics who support abortion rights, giving legitimacy to a group that is often overlooked in the abortion debate."
Review
"Good Catholics is an excellent primer on the dynamic issue of religion in reproductive health issues in the US. The importance of progressive, faith- based leadership on these matters con- tinues to grow, and this book provides a great introduction to many on the fore- front of change." -- Cecile Richards, President of Planned Parenthood
Review
"Author Patricia Miller presents...historical details in a page-turning thriller filled with courageous individuals." --Lousewies van der Laan, Vice President of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe.
Review
"For anyone looking around in the wake of the Supreme Court's recent Hobby Lobby decision and asking, 'How did we get here?' [Good Catholics] provides your answer--and then some. . . . An excellent primer on the dynamic issue of religion in reproductive health issues in the US."
Review
"Lends a voice to Catholics who support abortion rights, giving legitimacy to a group that is often overlooked in the abortion debate."
Review
"A page-turning thriller filled with courageous individuals."
Review
"A serious study instead of what could have been a partisan puff piece."
Synopsis
Good Catholics tells the story of the nearly fifty-year struggle in the Catholic Church over abortion, as progressives and conservatives battled over the moral acceptability of the procedure and whether Catholics have the right to disagree with the leadership of the church on the issue. By recounting a history of protest and persecution that has never before been pulled together in one narrative, Miller demonstrates the profound and surprising influence that the conflict over abortion in the Catholic Church has had on the US political system. This controversial, groundbreaking book demonstrates that good Catholics can support abortion rights, and gives voice to the people who have fought a decades-long battle to assert their legitimacy.
Synopsis
"Wonderful, original, and provocative. . . . Destined to be a critical and popular success."and#151;Kristin Luker, author of
Abortion and the Politics of Motherhood "Good Catholics traces the emergence of a strong and effective pro-choice movement in American Catholicism from the 1970s to 2012. It also documents the aggressive politicization of the Vatican and Catholic hierarchy in combating dissent on abortion and birth control among American Catholics. Patricia Miller concludes that the underlying issue in this struggle is not just abortion itself, but the deep hostility of traditional Christianity to women's sexuality and the possibility of women enjoying sex without and#145;payingand#8217; for it by pregnancy and childcare."and#151;Rosemary Radford Ruether, Professor of Theology, Claremont School of Theology and Graduate University
and#147;A must read for all of us who are prochoice because of our faith, not despite it. We are not alone.and#8221;and#151;Jon O'Brien, President, Catholics for Choice
About the Author
Patricia Miller is a Washington, DC-based journalist and editor who has written extensively about women, politics and religion. She was the editor-in-chief of National Journals American Healthline and the founding editor of the Kaiser Daily Reproductive Health Report and Daily HIV/AIDS Report. She is also the former editor of Conscience magazine.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments
Introduction: The Virgin, the Saint, and the Nun
Part I: The History of an Idea
1. The Four Wise Women
2. The Dread Secret
3. Pope Patricia
4. Coming of Age
5. The Cardinal of Choice
Part II: The Bishopsand#8217; Lobby
6. The Bishopsand#8217; Lobby
7. Showdown at Cairoand#160;
8. Matters of Conscience
9. Playing Politics
10. Health Care and Politics Redux
Epilogue: The Philippines
Notes
Bibliography
Index