Good Catholics - by Patricia Miller (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

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 today'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 (Women's Issues) in the 2015 IPPY awards, an award presented by the Independent Publishers Book Association to recognize excellence in independent book publishing.

From the Back Cover

"Wonderful, original, and provocative. . . . Destined to be a critical and popular success."--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 'paying' for it by pregnancy and childcare."--Rosemary Radford Ruether, Professor of Theology, Claremont School of Theology and Graduate University

"A must read for all of us who are prochoice because of our faith, not despite it. We are not alone."--Jon O'Brien, President, Catholics for Choice

Review Quotes

"A page-turning thriller filled with courageous individuals."--Lousewies van der Laan, Vice President of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe "Conscience" (2/13/2015 12:00:00 AM)

"A serious study instead of what could have been a partisan puff piece."--Mary E. Hunt "Women's Review of Books" (4/1/2015 12:00:00 AM)

"Anyone interested in discovering how and why the abortion issue is so inextricably tied up with Catholicism will be fascinated by this important work."-- "Publishers Weekly" (4/1/2014 12:00:00 AM)

"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."--Cecile Richards, President of Planned Parenthood "Conscience" (2/15/2015 12:00:00 AM)

"Lends a voice to Catholics who support abortion rights, giving legitimacy to a group that is often overlooked in the abortion debate."-- "Ms. Magazine" (12/26/2013 12:00:00 AM)

"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."-- "Free Inquiry" (8/14/2014 12:00:00 AM)

"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."-- "National Catholic Reporter" (8/20/2014 12:00:00 AM)

"Thoroughly researched."--Jim Hinch "The Los Angeles Review of Books" (5/24/2015 12:00:00 AM)

"While evangelical Christians ultimately brought down the contraception mandate, [Miller shows] they had big help from Catholics."-- "Salon" (9/14/2014 12:00:00 AM)

About the Author

Patricia Miller is a Washington, D.C.-based journalist and editor who has written extensively about the intersection of politics, sex, and religion. She was the editor of Conscience magazine, the leading journal of pro-choice Catholic thought, and was the editor in chief of the daily health care briefings for National Journal.