I want to let you know that I am a novice Catholic. I will be baptized, confirmed, and have my first communion during the Easter Vigil this year at the young age of 27. However, I went to Catholic school when I was in middle school and the college I attended (and currently attend as a grad student) is a Catholic university. I have always known the Catholic Church’s stance on abortion, but I have been pro-choice for as long as I can remember.

When it comes to social issues, I am pretty progressive. This has only been strengthened by my conversion to Catholicism because I am constantly bombarded with messages of hope, love, and community. By chastising people for making choices that go against our beliefs, this message dissipates. Deciding to have and go through an abortion is a tough choice and no one should be chastised for making that choice. Instead, women should have a support system they can turn to in order to aid them through the tumultuous period after having an abortion.

Now, being pro-choice does not mean that we believe everyone should go out and get an abortion. Rather, it means we believe women should make their own decisions about their bodies from the use (or not) of contraception to getting an abortion. In fact, due to the increase in access to reproductive health options the abortion rates in the United States have decreased. This year marks the lowest rate of abortions since the landmark Roe v. Wade (1973) Supreme Court case. Statistics show that if we want abortion rates to decrease, then better and increased access to reproductive health is needed. I would also like to argue that better education about sex is needed as well. We cannot just ignore the topic or only promote abstinence, especially in the culture we live in where sex, drugs, and alcohol are constantly being promoted in TV shows, movies, and music. We have to talk to young people about sex so they do not rely on the media for (unreliable) information. And we need to be real and honest about it (STDs and all), no matter how uncomfortable it may feel. I am one of those people who find the topic uncomfortable to discuss with total strangers, but I believe it is important to inform young people about sex.

My pro-choice stance does not make me any less Catholic than my pro-life counterparts. We just have different points of view and that’s okay. Not all Catholics are conservative Republicans. There are actually a lot of Catholic Democrats (can you say Joe Biden aka Uncle Joe). There is also a movement of pro-choice Catholics in the form of organizations like

Catholics for a Free Choice. This is the beauty of having free will and being able to make our own decisions. My faith has deepened my progressive viewpoints, because I believe we should treat everyone with dignity and respect, no matter their background. The foundation of Catholicism is based on the teachings and life of Jesus, not social issues. He constantly surrounded himself with outcasts and those who were ostracized to show the power of love. I do not think any one of us can live up to Jesus’ standards, but he shows us that everyone deserves love and support. This includes women who have gone through an abortion. With that being said, I am a proud Catholic who happens to be pro-choice.