Jon O' Brien's Bio
Site last published: 01/06/10
Jon O'Brien, President,
Catholics
for Choice
Jon
O’Brien, president of Catholics
for Choice (CFC), heads the leading
prochoice organization that addresses sexual and
reproductive rights from a standpoint of culture,
faith, and morality. Through his leadership,
O’Brien is committed to maintaining a visionary
approach to reproductive health policy, focused
on shaping and advancing the way people,
especially opinion leaders and policy makers,
think about these issues, and on promoting the
organization’s goal of a world where all women
and men are trusted to make sound and responsible
decisions about their lives. O’Brien speaks
clearly and cogently against the challenges to
sound reproductive rights and health policy put
forward by the powerful Catholic hierarchy, which
uses every means at its disposal, whether through
financial strength, political clout, false claims
of universal acceptance of its positions by
Catholics, or outright threats to punish or
publicly shame those who don’t follow its edicts,
without question.
With more than twenty years experience in the field, Mr. O’Brien is a leader in developing global strategy surrounding reproductive health and rights issues. He has worked on five continents with local advocates and activists on policy development, advocacy, and communications. Highly sought after for his expertise, O’Brien has increased communications and advocacy efficacy in the reproductive rights and health movement working with partners around the world—including family planning associations, medical practitioners, prochoice advocates, nonprofit leaders, and policy makers—to develop new ways to approach and discuss the abortion debate.
During more than a decade with Catholics for Choice, Mr. O’Brien helped shape the tone of the organization’s international and domestic programs, and developed CFC’s expanding domestic outreach program to prochoice, Catholic legislators in the United States. Decision makers, including members of the UK House of Parliament, federal and state legislators in the US, members of the European Parliament and of national parliaments across Europe, often call upon him to articulate the prochoice, Catholic perspective to inform critical policy debates. Mr. O’Brien’s insights have stimulated discussion on reproductive rights and health through his frequent contributions in articles and opinion pieces in print media including the New York Times, the Economist, the International Herald Tribune, the Independent, and the National Catholic Reporter, as well as through his appearances on CNN and BBC, among many other news outlets.
A life-long Catholic born and raised in the Republic of Ireland, Mr. O’Brien’s initial involvement in reproductive rights was sparked by his reaction to the great injustices that women especially face as a result of the Catholic hierarchy’s influence over public policy in the country. He began his professional career with the Irish Family Planning Association, where he worked on the front lines of reproductive health provision and was instrumental in developing the strategy that successfully engineered the downfall of Ireland’s restrictive contraceptive laws. Before coming to CFC, Mr. O’Brien also worked as program manager at the International Planned Parenthood Federation’s European Bureau in London, overseeing the federation’s work establishing family planning clinics in Eastern Europe during a time of immense political and social turmoil. Mr. O’Brien has been honored by the International Parliamentarians Conference on ICPD, recognized as a “Key to Choice” by Planned Parenthood Golden Gate, and received the Abby J. Leibman Pursuit of Justice Lifetime Achievement Award from the California Women’s Law Center in 2007.
With more than twenty years experience in the field, Mr. O’Brien is a leader in developing global strategy surrounding reproductive health and rights issues. He has worked on five continents with local advocates and activists on policy development, advocacy, and communications. Highly sought after for his expertise, O’Brien has increased communications and advocacy efficacy in the reproductive rights and health movement working with partners around the world—including family planning associations, medical practitioners, prochoice advocates, nonprofit leaders, and policy makers—to develop new ways to approach and discuss the abortion debate.
During more than a decade with Catholics for Choice, Mr. O’Brien helped shape the tone of the organization’s international and domestic programs, and developed CFC’s expanding domestic outreach program to prochoice, Catholic legislators in the United States. Decision makers, including members of the UK House of Parliament, federal and state legislators in the US, members of the European Parliament and of national parliaments across Europe, often call upon him to articulate the prochoice, Catholic perspective to inform critical policy debates. Mr. O’Brien’s insights have stimulated discussion on reproductive rights and health through his frequent contributions in articles and opinion pieces in print media including the New York Times, the Economist, the International Herald Tribune, the Independent, and the National Catholic Reporter, as well as through his appearances on CNN and BBC, among many other news outlets.
A life-long Catholic born and raised in the Republic of Ireland, Mr. O’Brien’s initial involvement in reproductive rights was sparked by his reaction to the great injustices that women especially face as a result of the Catholic hierarchy’s influence over public policy in the country. He began his professional career with the Irish Family Planning Association, where he worked on the front lines of reproductive health provision and was instrumental in developing the strategy that successfully engineered the downfall of Ireland’s restrictive contraceptive laws. Before coming to CFC, Mr. O’Brien also worked as program manager at the International Planned Parenthood Federation’s European Bureau in London, overseeing the federation’s work establishing family planning clinics in Eastern Europe during a time of immense political and social turmoil. Mr. O’Brien has been honored by the International Parliamentarians Conference on ICPD, recognized as a “Key to Choice” by Planned Parenthood Golden Gate, and received the Abby J. Leibman Pursuit of Justice Lifetime Achievement Award from the California Women’s Law Center in 2007.