Geraldine Ferraro is remembered as as the
first woman nominated for national office by a major party thus
ending the men's club of national politics. She had a more difficult time with the men's club of the Catholic Church. As a Catholic member of the House of Representatives and as a vice-presidential candidate, Ferraro was
attacked by New York's John Cardinal O'Connor for her support of abortion rights. Ferraro had signed a then-notorious letter with other Catholics claiming there was a
diversity of Catholic opinion about abortion. O'Connor insisted there was no such diversity.
It is hard to believe that the bishops are still fighting this battle and that with Republican help they almost
shut the government down to stop Planned Parenthood from providing contraception, even to married women. Fortunately
Democratic women Senators stepped into Ferraro's shoes and defended women's rights to health care.
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