I think most Catholic women are pro-choice.

[Kath1]

They are just afraid to identify as such. Because of family pressure, tradition, right-wing husbands and so forth, they don't speak out. You'll never see them in a pro-choice rally. But they believe in and vote pro-choice, at least those who are under 60.

I was raised Catholic and went to Catholic grammer and high school. I'm pro-choice. I still have a lot of friends who who still go to church. I talk with them often. All of my Catholic friends voted for Obama and their major issue was women's reproductive rights, second to the economic issues.

All of them have been on the pill. Most of them have been to Planned Parenthood. None of them could care less what the Pope thinks.

I constantly encourage them to be visibly pro-choice. But that is easy for me to say since I am divorced, have a successful adult daughter and have a steady job.

My parents were so pissed off that I stopped attending church and got much more political (left) after divorce, but it was worth it to me be my own person.

Catholic women vote and most of them vote for choice.

[Sherman A1]

1. Where you stand, depends upon where you sit.

You could very well be correct, but I believe that many not so much up until the point where it becomes a issue close to home. Then I believe your theory holds true.


But everyone is different and that is just my opinion.

[BainsBane]

2. polls show you're right

I've seen polls demonstrating that a vast majority of Catholics, men and women alike, are pro-choice.

[CountAllVotes]

3. most are

Including my late mother. After she'd passed away I found a clipping in her jewelry box from good old Dear Abby. A woman had written to her asking if she knew anything about a new procedure (this was in 1956) for men to be more or less sterilized rather than the woman. The new procedure was the vasectomy!

It was not long after this article was dated that my father ended up having one (albeit a failed "procedure" being my late father failed to follow-up on the results of said surgery resulting in ... my brother! ... ) ... oh well they tried to avoid another child and both of my parents were indeed Catholic as am I (well to a point and only to a point) and pro-choice too!

[Freddie]

4. That happened to my best friend!

After 2 little girls, they decided their family was complete and her DH got "snipped". Then his father died suddenly and he never got around to his follow up appointment. Now they have 3 little girls, and #3 is the one who looks most like Daddy! (And after her birth, Mom got "fixed", not taking any more chances.)

[CountAllVotes]

6. In 1956 it was UNHEARD of

I still laugh every time I find that Dear Abby article. I kept it along with many of her other little things.

When she found out my brother was en route, she wanted an abortion but that was not a legal choice in 1960 so she had him anyway. He is dead and gone now, cancer in his early 40s took him.

It was a real shock to want an abortion in 1960. I know my father tried to find a doctor that would provide the service but he couldn't find anyone. My very Catholic grandmother was crying her eyes out is what I was told as my father asked her for some money so my mother could obtain one (illegally no doubt).

All in all it was a major fail all the way around sadly.

[Freddie]

5. And definitely pro-contraception

My ex-boss was a rabid pro-life devout Catholic. She even made a point of hiring young single mothers when we had an appropriate opening, because "she was brave and did the right thing". It was definitely her only issue when voting. But she did not follow the Church directives in everything, because she also told us all the details of her husband's vasectomy.

[Bluenorthwest]

7. Then why claim to 'believe' a religion one does not at all agree with, why stand with them

in ways they use to make it seem that you stand against the rights of others? I hope they understand that we, the people harmed by their social club the RCC, do not think for a moment that those who sit in those pews are anything but the adherents to dogma they claim to be by sitting in those pews.

[CountAllVotes]

8. Many of us

Don't "sit in those pews".

A lot of "us" don't even attend Church and as for me, I cannot sit in the pews as I have a disability that prevents it.

Religious beliefs are a highly personal thing and I sure wish that people would stop lumping all Catholics into one big group. I for one never attend any of their functions as they do not interest me. That is why.

We are individuals.

How we care to practice this faith is up to each of us alone and always has been for me.

Like it or lump it is what I've always said.

If you don't like it, don't go. Period.

And yes, it really IS that simple.

[musette_sf]

10. i gave you my last heart

because "How we care to practice this faith is up to each of us alone and always has been for me."

me too.

thank you

[CountAllVotes]

11. wow, well thank you!!

back!!

[Kath1]

9. I don't sit in those pews

and haven't for years. I'm just saying that I have friends who still do but disagree vehemently with their religion on abortion and contraception. As I said, I encourage them to be more vocal. However, I do realize that being ostracized by parents and family is not something they want to deal with. I know, because I've been through it. Divorcing a Catholic and choosing to raise my daughter with no religion at all? I had some family members who acted like I was a criminal. Took me a long time to get over it.

[Tumbulu]

12. I think the same thing

My mother (born in 1918) was a devout Catholic and real leader in her parish - raising the funds to build a hall and kitchen that later became the place for meals for the homeless, etc.

But she thought that NO MAN!!!!!!!! had any right to peep ONE WORD about contraception, abortion or any other matter that was a woman's business. And these men included the men in the government.

She was not and is not alone. The vocal anti- choice people make a lot of noise, but the everyday parishioners are a different matter. It is the admin of the church that needs to shut up on the matter.

I am not a practicing Catholic, but know many and many nuns and they are all pro choice.

[Kath1]

13. Thank you!

I couldn't have said it as well.

"...but know many and many nuns and they are all pro choice." That is just awesome. I know just one, and she told me that the Vatican needs to shut up about choice/contraception and concentrate on the problems of poverty and war.

Thanks so much for your response. Pro-choice Catholic nuns. I love it!

[Kath1]

14. Wow, talk about synchronicity!

This morning a practicing Catholic co-worked of mine commented on the Pope stepping down by saying she's really glad about it because he is so out of touch. She then remarked that she knows a lot of nuns and they are all pro-choice.

[Tumbulu]

15. So, our observations are supported!

I think that women being prochoice, even religious ones (who would not personally choose and abortion) is about not feeling as though one's religious beliefs should be imposed on anyone else.

[Kath1]

16. Exactly!

Most of the religious women I know are at least pro-access and believe it is a personal decision.

[PeaceNikki]

17. The problem that those of us agnostic/atheists have is..

those pro-choice (or only pro-choice when it's THEIR choice) religious people continue to ALLOW themselves to be led by misogynistic homophobic assholes who try to dictate public policy in a secular society. It doesn't matter if they are pro-choice if they continue to support the leaders of their church who are the public voice and face of it.

I get the subthreads that in here that not all Catholics are 'in the pews'. However, the OP specifically stated that is who they are 'calling out'. The ones who still align with these assholes and support them financially and with their presence.

[Tumbulu]

18. Well there is this popular idea that nuns are led by priests

Last edited Tue Feb 12, 2013, 06:12 PM - Edit history (1)

and that the laity is led by the hierarchy of the church.

But that does not really seem to be the reality- at least in the US. Religious orders are self governed by each order and are legally separated. Women religious are self governing as are the male religious orders.

All this talk about the Vatican being in charge is more illusional and one can see how frantic they have become by publically calling the US nun's out about being too focused on "doing real work" rather than spewing outdated and hateful ideology . There really is there is not much that they can actually do. The orders (nuns and monks) own their buildings, businesses and run their non profits independently.

I think that those of us who do not participate in active church affiliation or membership really do not know much about how church groups really function.

It is easy to blame religions for human issues. I try to remember that for many people being a member of a church is a chance to form community with other people (not based on employment) , to have a place to go to connect with others and to give and receive help from others. I see the hierarchy of the Catholic Church crumbling before our eyes and think that this is a direct result of the actual participants of the religious communities changing it from the bottom up. But rather quietly.