Feminism VS The Catholic Church
The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) is a lengthy document that outlines the reasoning behind all Catholic teachings. It is created and amended by the current Pope and Magisterium, a group of men who interpret biblical messages and make decisions regarding what the Church teaches. When discussing abortion the CCC states, "Human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception...Formal cooperation in an abortion constitutes a grave offense. The Church attaches the canonical penalty of excommunication to this crime against human life" [1]. With the legalization and increased access to abortion throughout recent history, the Catholic Church has endured decades of scrutiny for their controversial opinion, which has remained unchanged. There are numerous Catholics who do not agree with Church teachings and, while not often discussed, are willing to speak up about their opposing thoughts.
Barbara Ferraro and Patricia Hussey, Sisters of Notre Dame, are an evident example of committed Catholic women who chose to publicly state their opinions on abortion in an advertisement from The New York Times. This exhibit will discuss these two nuns as a way to asses public dissent within the Catholic Church around the issue of women’s reproductive rights. The decision from Barbara and Patricia to go public with their opinions generated backlash from the Vatican and many Catholics. What these religious individuals failed to recognize is the contrast between lived experience and Catholic doctrine. Over the years, Patricia and Barbara interacted with various women, with vastly different experiences, who helped influence the way these two tackled their thoughts on abortion. While their opposing public stance was not agreed with by many Catholics, Ferraro and Hussey's choices positively contributed to a community of dissent. A community where they are not fighting alone and their actions have played an important role for Catholic women across the globe.
For more discussion on the climate of abortion legalization and the driving forces behind anti-abortion movements during the late-twentieth-century, be sure to look at the exhibits by Tania, Mikaela, and Will.