Interview with Katie Breslin of Catholics for Choice

In keeping with DLP's mission of promoting the valuable work of young activists on the front lines of the reproductive choice movement, I interviewed Katie Breslin, Domestic Program Associate at Catholics for Choice. Please read on for her insights on CFC's work and the impact of faith in the fight for reproductive justice. Q: Can you explain how you got interested in the reproductive rights movement?

I became interested in the reproductive rights movement when I was in college. I can always remember supporting reproductive healthcare access, but going to an all-women’s college in Washington, DC, opened the door to feminism and activism that I didn’t know existed. In college, I was very involved in student activism related to social justice and reproductive rights issues, and I was privileged to continue this work at Catholics for Choice after graduation.

Q: What role do you think Catholics for Choice plays in the national dialogue about reproductive rights?

When the Catholic hierarchy weighs in on issues of sexuality, such as abortion and contraception, Catholics for Choice is there to represent what the majority of Catholics believe about these subjects. At Catholics for Choice, we strive to be an expression of Catholicism as it is lived by ordinary people. We are part of the great majority of the faithful in the Catholic church who disagree with the dictates of the Vatican on matters related to sexuality, contraception and abortion.

Q: Can you explain what you do as the Domestic Program Associate for CFC?

My job at Catholics for Choice is to work with everyday Catholics to empower them to speak out as Catholics on reproductive health policies. When legislation is in motion that will impact the status of abortion access or contraception coverage, it is my responsibility to give Catholics the tools they need to make sure their voices are heard in the public policy arena.

Q: Are you Catholic? If so, how has your religious background impacted your approach to your work?

Catholics for Choice was one of the first places where I felt my identity as a Catholic and a prochoice advocate became one. The core Catholic teaching of social justice is the reason why I’m prochoice today. When policies limit access to abortion and contraception, it is often the poor and those who live in rural areas that are hurt first and worst. My hometown in northeastern Pennsylvania is one of the poorest areas of the state, with very limited access to reproductive health services. I believe that all people, regardless of their income, should be able to consult their own conscience when making moral decisions about their reproductive healthcare—and that we should respect what another person believes is the right decision for them. Like most Catholics, I am prochoice because of my faith, not in spite of it.

Q: Does CFC advocate for a shift in the religious stances of the church or a shift in how practicing Catholics view abortion/family planning?

It’s important to note that the majority of Catholics already support reproductive healthcare access. Ninety-nine percent of sexually active Catholic women have used a form of birth control banned by the Vatican. Only 10 percent of Catholics support the Vatican’s extremist view of banning all abortions. We believe elected officials, policymakers and even the bishops should listen to the majority of people, including Catholics, who support policies that broaden reproductive healthcare access for all.

Q: On CFC’s website, the banner reads “In good conscience.” Can you explain what that means and how it guides the work of CFC?

Conscience is a core tenet in Catholicism. Conscience is the inner voice inside each of us that guides us and tells us what is right and wrong. At Catholics for Choice, we believe that our conscience is the final arbiter in all moral decision-making. Everyone should have the right to make decisions about their reproductive healthcare without obstacles.

Q: In your opinion, what are some of the big ideological divides between the Catholic Church’s stance on family planning/motherhood and that of the average practicing American Catholic? Is there such a thing as an “average Catholic” perspective?

When we talk about the Catholic church, we mean the entire church, which includes 1.2 billion Catholics around the world. In our polling, we have seen that the vast majority of Catholics in the United States support reproductive healthcare access. You can find our most recent polling here.

Q: Are there any specific challenges to working within the Catholic community in the DMV region?

CFC has been involved with legislation in Maryland and Virginia and in the DC City Council. Last year, Catholics for Choice delivered testimony to the DC Judiciary Committee on a prochoice bill that would protect an individual’s reproductive health decisions from her boss’s interference. You can read the testimony here.

I care about all of the states that we work in, but it especially hits home when the communities where I live and visit are targeted by antichoice legislation—or if there is an opportunity to increase reproductive healthcare access for all.

To find out more about the work of Catholics for Choice, please visit their website.