Abstract
Focusing on institutional legitimation this study analyzes the abortion policy statements of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops (NCCB) issued in three public fora (general public Congress and the Supreme Court) during the time of the two landmark cases Roe (1973-1976) and Webster (1989-1992). The study explores whether the NCCB responds to shifts in the abortion policy environment by varying its self-presentation on abortion generally over time specific fora over time or in response to actual or impending changes in abortion policy within particular time periods. The study found that from Roe to Webster there was a significant increase in the complexity of the NCCBs general public and legal arguments and a decrease in the complexity of its congressional statements. A significant time-by-forum interaction suggested that fluctuations in the complexity of the Churchs arguments were due to the strategic responsiveness of the Church to cyclical shifts in the fortunes of the pro-life agenda. (authors)
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