Résumé : Movements for reproductive rights in Latin America contend with the strong influence of the Catholic Church. In Argentina and Chile, two predominately Catholic countries where abortion is illegal yet commonly practiced, reproductive rights activists consider the Church to be their focal opponent. Political opportunity theory would suggest that weaker links between political and religious elites in Chile would provide more political opportunity for activists seeking reproductive rights, but the opposite is true. In Chile, the strong links between Church and society make Chilean activists more cautious in their criticism. Religious and political elites are more allied in Argentina than in Chile, yet the Argentine movement is stronger and more critical. In this paper, I analyze social movement materials and information from personal interviews with activists to argue that societal or 'cultural opportunity' may be more important in the strategic use of religion. Synthesizing political and cultural variables is important for movements that make claims on both State and society, especially movements that challenge powerful social actors like the Catholic Church.
Notes : Inglés/anglais/English