Catherine's Story

Catholic, Pro-choice and Proud

"Before, I didn't realize that the position of the Catholic Church on abortion is not canon law: as a Catholic, it's completely within my rights to disagree with the church's position on that issue, and several Catholic theologians do. Religious pro-choice groups are incredible sources that helped me reconcile whatever struggle I had between my faith and my pro-choice views."

Read all of Catherine's story here.

Here at B*llikens for Choice, we are not trying to radically change your views on the church, your faith, or abortion.  We are advocating for a dialogue on the issues. Nothing is black and white.  Catholic does not necessarily have to mean anti-choice.

If you have any questions, comments, or would like to further discuss the issue with us please email us at prochoiceslu@gmail.com.  We would be more than happy to talk!

The CONDOM FAIRY IS HERE!!!

A key part of reproductive justice is prevention! Specifically, condoms reduce unintended pregnancies and the spread of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infection. As part of the Great American Condom Campaign, B*llikens for Choice is having a condom giveaway just for SLU students! That's right--we're giving away free condoms! How can you get your hands on the goods?

• Email prochoiceslu@gmail.com with your MSC/SLU mailbox number (no name necessary) and we will deliver a pack of 3 lubricated Trojans in a discreet package in 2 days or less at no cost to you!
• Leave a comment on our facebook wall about why you are pro-choice and get a pack of 5 condoms!

Most universities provide free condoms year-round to their students in recognition of the important role they play in preventing STDs and unplanned pregnancies. Like many other Catholic schools, SLU has chosen not to make the sexual health of their students a priority. It's no surprise then that women at Catholic universities are more likely to have abortions than women at public colleges. Questions about the condom campaign? Leave a comment or email us for more information!

What does it mean to be Catholic and Pro-Choice?

Many people of faith struggle to reconcile their church's teachings with their own personal convictions about reproductive health. When it comes to the Vatican’s teachings on a woman's right to choose, Catholics around the world stand well apart from the hierarchy. You are not alone!

• -Barely a fifth (22%) of Catholics in the U.S. agree with the bishops that abortion should be completely illegal
• -Catholic women in the U.S. have abortions at the same rate as women in the population as a whole.
• -Majorities of Catholics in Bolivia (66%), Colombia (54%) and Mexico (69%) feel abortion should be  permitted under some or all circumstances. 
• -In Italy, which is 97% Catholic, 74% favor the use of RU-486

So what do these numbers mean? Below is are excerpts from a statement by Catholics for Choice on what it means to be Pro-Choice and Catholic--and why it is important (read full statement here).

"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.

In all parts of the world, women, men and their families suffer and some die because they lack the resources to plan their families and the comprehensive information and education to keep themselves safe and healthy. The Catholic hierarchy’s role in influencing public policy affects everyone—Catholic and non-Catholic—by limiting the availability of reproductive health services worldwide. The Catholic hierarchy’s lobbying against contraception and abortion has disastrous effects on women’s lives both in the United States and abroad and especially on the lives of poor women.

We believe in a world where every woman and man has access to quality and choice in contraception. Wherever possible, we believe in working to reduce the incidence of unplanned and unwanted pregnancy and that society and individuals should strive to give women and men real choices."

"Even in a predominantly Catholic country, laws governing access to abortion need not adhere to the official Catholic position. The Second Vatican Council’s Declaration on Religious Freedom reinforced the call for Catholics to respect the positions of people of other faiths. This is particularly significant given that the Catholic church’s positions on health policies, including abortion, is more conservative than that of other major faith groups."

"We affirm that the moral capacity and the human right to make choices about whether and when to become pregnant or to end a pregnancy are supported by church teachings. We believe that people should be empowered and given support to exercise their rights and responsibilities. We believe that women have a right to choose."

There are many resources out there for pro-choice people of faith.  Remember--being pro-choice does not necessarily mean agreeing with abortion in and of itself, but rather giving women the legal option to choose what is right for themselves and to control their own reproduction.

• Catholics for Choice
• Spiritual Youth for Reproductive Freedom
• Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice
  
• Disciples for Choice
• Presbyterians Affirming Reproductive Options

The Global War in Your Pants

A bit more commentary for anyone else who is still confused about how we feel about abstinence only education.

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
The Global War in Your Pants
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Health Care Crisis

FACT #7: The Morning-After Pill (Plan B) does NOT CAUSE ABORTION

Recently in our mailboxes we received a copy of "iCare," an anti-abortion propaganda newsletter published by the Human Life Alliance and distributed at SLU by Students for Life. Aside from the cheesy stock photos of forlorn, attractive and ethnically diverse young women scattered throughout the pages, I was not surprised at all shocked to see several instances of hogwash medically incorrect information presented as fact.

The most egregious of these was the lie claim that the Morning-After Pill (Plan B) causes abortion. This is patently false, untrue, medically inaccurate, etc. Also known as Emergency Contraception (EC), Plan B prevents pregnancy from occurring in the first place. In fact, taking EC during an current/existing pregnancy will have no adverse affects. Emergency Contraception is also routinely given to rape victims at hospitals (but not at SLU hospital, hmm) to prevent victims from being re-traumatized with an unplanned pregnancy. Plan B is often confused with RU-486, a pill taken under doctor's supervision that does induce abortion during the first trimester.

Here's how Emergency Contraception works:

• Emergency contraception is made of the same hormones found in birth control pills.
• The hormones in the morning after pill work by keeping a woman's ovaries from releasing eggs — ovulation. Pregnancy cannot happen if there is no egg to join with sperm. The hormones in the morning after pill also prevent pregnancy by thickening a woman's cervical mucus. The mucus blocks sperm and keeps it from joining with an egg.
• The hormones also thin the lining of the uterus. In theory, this (along with yams, pomegranate, and too much Vitamin C) could prevent pregnancy by keeping a fertilized egg from attaching to the uterus.

Once an egg is attached, EC has no effect. EC prevents a pregnancy--it does not end one.
EC reduces the chance of pregnancy by 99% if used withing 12 hours, and by 75-89% if used withing 72 hours. 
If you are already pregnant, EC will not harm the fetus.

If you or someone you know finds themselves in need of EC after a sexual assault, a broken condom, or unprotected sex, look no further than the dozens of providers around St. Louis, including the Walgreens on Lindell and the Planned Parenthood on Forest Park.

Don't be one of them. Educate yourself!

FACT #6: Planned Parenthood is your friend.

There is a Planned Parenthood within walking distance of SLU .
(Walk down campus, left on Vandeventer, right on Forest Park)

Services include:

• abortion referral
• birth control services
• emergency contraception
  
• HIV testing
• HPV and Hepatitis Vaccines
• pregnancy testing, options and services
• STD testing and treatment
• women's health services such as Pap smears, cervical cancer screening, and UTI treatment
  

To learn more about Planned Parenthood and all the good that they are doing for women, check out their website.

FACT #5: CONDOMS ARE NOT ROCKET SCIENCE

How to put on a condom.

The Marshmallow Test: More on the absurdity of abstinence-only sex education

SUPER funny video via H*yas for Choice, another awesome pro-choice student group at Georgetown University.

FACT #4: By the age of 19, 7 in 10 teens are sexually active.

With this fact in mind, it is much more disconcerting to know that "a sexually active teen who does not use contraceptives has a 90% chance of becoming pregnant within a year."

As SLU students, we do not have free access to contraception on campus. What will this do to SLU's retention rate?

"Teen mothers are now more likely than in the past to complete high school or obtain a GED, but they are still less likely than women who delay childbearing to go on to college."

http://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/fb_ATSRH.html

Speak up! Tell SLU that students are having sex and need protection!

FACT #3: ABSTINENCE ONLY EDUCATION DOES NOT WORK

The United States has the highest rate of teenage pregnancy in all industrialized nations.

Why?

According to this study, states with the most conservative religious beliefs tend to have higher rates of teenage pregnancy.

Between 1995 and 2002, most (86%) of the decline in teenage pregnancy was due to improved contraceptive use. The remaining 14% was due to teens delaying sex

Let's get real about abstinence only education.

http://www.rhrealitycheck.org/blog/2009/09/17/roundup-study-shows-high-correlation-between-teen-pregnancy-and-religiosity-in-us-states
http://www.themediaproject.com/facts/sexeducation/mythfact.htm
http://www.guttmacher.org/in-the-know/pregnancy.html

FACT #2: Worldwide, sixteen women die every hour from unsafe abortion

Yeah. That's right. Sixteen women every hour. (World Heath Organization)

Restrictive government laws on abortion often force the practice underground, contributing to the morbidity and mortality rates associated with unsafe abortion.

Is this the vision Students for Life has for America?

In 1996, the Panamerican Health Organization revealed that abortion is the primary cause of maternal death in:

• Argentina
• Chile
• Guatemala
• Panama
• Paraguay
• Peru

Abortion is the second leading cause of maternal mortality in Costa Rica, and the third in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia Ecuador, El Salvador, Honduras, Mexico and Nicaragua. Thankfully, in the United States women still have the right to the full range of legal and safe reproductive choices.

Think it through. Educate yourself & get the facts now.

FACT #1: Condoms prevent abortion

3,500 condoms could have prevented the 3,500 abortions that take place each day.
Contraception is key to reducing the unplanned pregnancies that lead to abortion.

Why does Students For Life only present one side?

• Condoms are 98% effective at preventing pregnancy
• With consistent use, less than 1 out of 100 women on the Pill get pregnant each year
  
• 97% of sexually active Catholic women have used contraception
• Married Catholic women who attend church 1+ times a week are as likely (88%) to
  use a form of contraception that is prohibited as those who attend services less frequently (88%).

Students have a right to the whole truth.

Get the facts:
http://www.plannedparenthood.org/health-topics/birth-control-4211.htm
http://www.catholicsforchoice.org/topics/contraception/keypubs.asp