Shortly before the 1984 US elections, someone handed the new archbishop of New York an old letter. It was signed by the vice-presidential candidate, who was a woman. The letter reflected the views of the pro-abortion group Catholics for a Free Choice.
The candidate was Geraldine Ferraro, who died last month aged 76. She was a US attorney, a Democratic Party politician, and a member of the United States House of Representatives.
The first female Vice-Presidential candidate representing a major American political party, she was also a Catholic.
The letter precipitated a long-running argument between Ferraro and Cardinal John O'Connor, who was the archbishop concerned.
FULL OBITUARY Geraldine Ferraro, the bishops, and abortion (National Catholic Reporter)
