Pro-choicers and pro-lifers find harmony in Washington

On Wednesday, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of former UPS worker Peggy Young, whose job was sorting packages. Under the ruling, a lower court will be forced to hear her lawsuit against UPS for refusing to lighten her workload when she became pregnant.

The really remarkable thing about Peggy Young’s case is that it put pro-choice liberals and pro-life conservatives on the same side of the issue. Both supported Peggy Young, which is exactly what theology professor Charles Camosy at Fordham University has been trying to accomplish for years.

“Here is something that both pro-lifers and pro-choicers can agree on,” Camosy said. “Pregnant women deserve the most strict protections for their jobs at work. They should absolutely not be fired or demoted or anything just for getting pregnant.”

Now he says, it’s time to get both sides around the same table to push things like paid maternity leave and maternal health care, so that ending a pregnancy never even enters a woman’s mind.

Just one little problem with that idea: each side in the debate raises its money by vilifying the other side. Professor Camosy’s approach threatens not just their business model, but the business model of certain media organizations.

“You’re one of the few mainstream radio organizations that wants to have me on because I don’t really fit into their understanding of quote-unquote two sides of this issue, right?”

However, as this week’s court decision shows, if the two sides stopped feuding, they might actually be able to help the women they claim to represent.

Being a theology professor, Camosy is patient. He’s willing to take it one issue at a time. Baby steps, as he says.

Professors Camosy’s book is called “Beyond the Abortion Wars: A Way Forward for a New Generation.”