Bishops and Bodies

"Brilliant. . . . The trust Freedman built with her numerous interviewees is crucial, and readers are lucky they are willing to share their experiences. The book is full of compelling stories from patients and doctors, grounding Freedman's nuanced insights about the workings of Catholic health care. . . . It's all important. It's not a long book, and it is well worth the time spent. In nuanced detail, Freedman shows the dangers to pregnant and birthing people of a world in which medical care comes second to theology and politics, and those who carry pregnancies are treated as vessels. Many more Americans live in that world now, and all of us should be concerned about the consequences." (Nursing Clio) "Freedman is a gifted writer: these narratives are superbly written, as is the book overall." (Journal of Moral Theology) "We would do well to study [Freedman's] work carefully . . . . Bishops and Bodies memorably demonstrates the power of abortion stigma . . . . While we have allowed ourselves to imagine abortion, and really all reproductive healthcare, as somehow distinct from other forms of medicine, Freedman shows this to be a mirage." (Catholics for Choice) “It’s a recipe for disaster-the Catholic Church wants the most births possible, and most American women want to limit their childbearing and protect their health with modern advances in contraception and abortion. Yet in the name of corporate conscience, our anachronistic laws allow Catholic healthcare to require physicians of all faiths to do things that violate medical ethics and often constitute malpractice. Freedman’s compelling research, rich storytelling, and incisive analysis reveal how outrageous Bishop-knows-best medicine really is.” - Katie Watson (author of Scarlet A: The Ethics, Law and Politics of Ordinary Abortion)

"Bishops and Bodies is poised to make a significant impact not just in social science and medical humanities circles, but in broader public conversations about health care, reproductive rights, and the place of religion in society."

- Jessica Martucci (author of Back to the Breast: Natural Motherhood and Breastfeeding in America)