Contact: Christine Valentine-Owsik, Our Sunday Visitor Publishing, 215-230-8095, COwsik@osv.com

WASHINGTON, Oct. 10, 2012 /Christian Newswire/ -- The following is submitted by Our Sunday Visitor Publishing:

WHAT: Launch of new book about Catholic women. BREAKING THROUGH:  CATHOLIC WOMEN SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES (by Helen Alvaré, J.D., M.A., Law Professor at George Mason University School of Law)
 
At a time when America is flirting with the idea that being a Catholic female means saying "yes" to the faith as a private source of comfort, but "no" to living out its countercultural moral and social teachings, many Catholic women are daring to speak otherwise.  Recent claims about a "war on women" fail to acknowledge the tens of thousands who value religious liberty. In the book, edited and co-authored by Helen Alvaré, nine Catholic women explain their own tensions with and resistance of Catholic teaching until they experienced how acceptance and living of it set them free.  The authors, along with 36,000 women who signed an open letter (www.womenspeakforthemselves.com) insist that their religious freedom be preserved not only for private worship, but also for public expression.

BREAKING THROUGH (published by Our Sunday Visitor) grew out of a women's movement, Women Speak for Themselves, established to defend religious freedom and to put forth a more thoughtful and complete vision of women's freedom.

WHO: Contributing authors in attendance will include:

• Helen Alvaré, J.D. M.A., Law Professor at George Mason University Law School; Chapter titles: "Fear of Children" and "The Single Mother: Threading the Needle"
   
• Kim Daniels, J.D., Director at Catholic Voices USA; Chapter title: "Beyond Politics: Everyday Catholic Life"
   
• Marie Anderson, M.D., OB-GYN and Medical Director at Tepeyac Family Center; Chapter title: "Contraception: Wrestling with Reality"
   
• Mary Hallan FioRito, J.D., Executive Assistant to Francis Cardinal George, O.M.I. at Archdiocese of Chicago; Chapter title: "Beauty, Bounty, Balance: Avoiding the Hazards of Having it All"

WHEN:  
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
12:15 - 1pm Eastern

WHERE: 
National Press Club
Zenger Room
529 14th Street, NW
Washington, D.C. 20045

HOW: Media interested in attending this event or in special interviews should register by contacting Christine Valentine-Owsik, publicist for Our Sunday Visitor Publishing at:  215-230-8095, or COwsik@osv.com.