New book defies "war on women" claims

WASHINGTON, Oct. 16, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- At a time when America is flirting with the idea that being religious means saying "yes" to faith as a private source of comfort, but "no" to living out its countercultural moral and social teachings, many Catholic women say otherwise. Co-authors of the new book Breaking Through: Catholic Women Speak For Themselves presented their stories at the National Press Club in Washington D.C. at noon on October 16, 2012.

"Recent claims about a "war on women" fail to acknowledge the tens of thousands of women who value religious liberty," said Helen Alvare, editor and co-author of Breaking Through and George Mason University law professor. "Breaking Through tackles the most neuralgic issues of the day from the perspectives of women who wrestled with these issues, only to find it was Catholic teaching that set them free."

"When a culture fosters religious expression and belief, it fosters true diversity and a robust sense of community, both of which are essential to political life," explained co-author Kim Daniels, attorney and Director of Catholic Voices USA.

Given their history of charity, Catholics have long worked to live generously toward all in their communities. "We need to take a measured approach to our use of this world's goods," explained co-author Mary Hallan FioRito, attorney and executive assistant to Francis Cardinal George O.M.I

In tackling the topic that has been at the heart of current religious freedom discussions, Dr. Marie Anderson, OB/GYN and medical director of the Tepeyac Family Center, detailed how she went from being a fallen away Catholic who practiced mainstream OB/GYN to seeing the Catholic Church knew all along that separating love from life leads to problems. Women deserve to be treated with dignity in body, soul, and spirit.  She now directs a medical center dedicated to providing alternatives to contraception and abortion and speaks out frequently on the topic of religious freedom in healthcare. 

Breaking Through: Catholic Women Speak For Themselves (published by Our Sunday Visitor) grew out of the Women Speak for Themselves (WSFT) movement, established to defend religious freedom and to put forth a more thoughtful and complete vision of women's freedom. WSFT is in the process of filing Amicus briefs in connection with the court cases challenging the HHS Mandate. For more information see: www.womenspeakforthemselves.com

SOURCE Women Speak for Themselves