Reproduction and the Common Good

“In July 2020, Emily Reimer-Barry and Simeiqi He co-convened a virtual roundtable to discuss reproduction and the common good eight times a year for nearly three years. Now, in this volume of sixteen robust essays, they present what is so often overlooked, the agency of women in an evidently unequal and unjust world. Reproduction and the Common Good: Global Perspectives from the Catholic Tradition is beyond doubt a ground-breaking work. As such, we hope it continues to generate and sustain the generous and collaborative spirit of bringing to light and to discussion the challenges of many whose faces and voices are still to be known.”

James F. Keenan

“This book shines a spotlight on the suffering of so many women relative to their task of transmitting life. Structural inequalities and socioeconomic injustices sometimes make motherhood more of a problem than a joy. Knowing how to competently but not abstractly illustrate the central aspects of this condition, even in light of Christian ethics, is the great merit of this volume, which deserves recognition and all our consideration.”

Antonio Autiero

“The essays in this ground-breaking collection shift the terms of the debate about reproduction in Catholic theological ethics. Capturing the unheard voices of women and their allies around the world, this collection draws on the Catholic moral tradition to offer new perspectives on reproductive justice. By reclaiming women’s moral agency and foregrounding the principles of social justice and common good, this brave and innovative collection provides hope for the future.”

Linda Hogan

“This book listens to women around the world and brings to light the difficult living conditions under which these women have to make decisions for their families. It rightly draws attention to the common good and argues that this must include a holistic improvement of women’s reproductive health. This collaboration between moral theologians is a best practice example of synodality and solidarity at the global level.”

Sigrid Müller

“This is a highly original collection, and an urgently needed one! Abortion controversies often are driven by local cultures, religions, politics, and laws. But ethics demands a broader perspective. The authors who gather here expand the horizons across women’s diverse experiences, while revealing common ground. An important example of how to do Christian ethics today!”

Lisa Sowle Cahill