Reproductive Justice and the Catholic Church: Advancing Pragmatic Solidarity with Pregnant Women

Dr. Reimer-Barry's book initiates a new conversation about women's experiences of miscarriage, stillbirth, and abortion, arguing that both the pro-life and pro-choice movements make important and valuable claims but each approach is flawed. She suggests a new way forward for abortion discourse that takes seriously the full human dignity of women and the intrinsic value of prenatal life, and that the Church should be a community of support in the midst of and after difficult discernments, seeking justice together and implementing structural reforms while also providing spiritual care to those in need.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 298 pages
Publication date: 02 July 2024
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc

Pregnancy loss is a complex, ambiguous, and alienating experience that can leave women feeling isolated and alone. However, the way in which women who have procured abortions are treated by society is often harsh and judgmental. Magisterial teachings on abortion are often presented as moral absolutes, which can distort the rich wisdom of the Catholic intellectual tradition. This book initiates a new conversation about women's experiences of miscarriage, stillbirth, and abortion, arguing that we need to approach these difficult life experiences in a more nuanced and compassionate way. Dr. Reimer-Barry argues that both the pro-life and pro-choice movements make important and valuable claims, but each approach on its own is flawed. Drawing on the framework of reproductive justice and Catholic social teaching, Dr. Reimer-Barry suggests a new way forward for abortion discourse that takes seriously the full human dignity of women and the intrinsic value of prenatal life. She argues that instead of thinking of the Church as a moral teacher, with leaders in Rome or Washington, DC dictating to the consciences of the faithful, a better way to address the complexity of difficult pregnancy discernments would be to think of the Church as a community of support in the midst of and after difficult discernments. A community that seeks justice together and implements structural reforms while also providing spiritual care to those in need. What women deserve is justice.

Weight: 404g
Dimension: 226 x 151 x 22 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781538182659