Mary Ann Sorrentino papers regarding her excommunication (Ms. 90.13)

The Mary Ann Sorrentino papers about her excommunication from the Catholic Church include correspondence (nearly all to Mary Ann Sorrentino); photocopied clippings of articles by and about Mary Ann Sorrentino, abortion, and the Catholic Church; the transcript of a meeting between Father Francis Egan and the Sorrentino-Ciullos; a report by Mary Ann Sorrentino; and a few broadsides, pamphlets, programs, and photographs. It also includes the Master of Arts in History thesis written by Rhonda J. Chadwick and 2 CD disks containing an oral history interview Chadwick conducted with MAS on 16 May 2012. The papers document Mary Ann Sorrentino's excommunication, the publicity surrounding it, and responses to it from a variety of people in Rhode Island and across the United States. The issues covered include the practice of abortion, the authority of the Catholic Church over its members, and general discussion religion and morality with respect to abortion. The collection covers a broad range of perspectives, including pro-choice, pro-life, Catholic, non-Catholic, public policy, and more.

Most of the clippings are contained in a binder compiled by Planned Parenthood of Rhode Island; it provides a good overview of the events and issues involved. The bulk of the papers are letters people wrote to Mary Ann Sorrentino in support of her stance against her excommunication. The correspondence also includes two letters from Mary Ann Sorrentino, some negative letters, and letters regarding other subjects, such as the defeat of Proposition 14. Some of the correspondents included clippings, broadsides, pamphlets, or copies of their letters to others. An annotated list of letter writers and contents follows the inventory. Mary Ann Sorrentino and her staff at Planned Parenthood of Rhode Island organized the letters by date and filed most of the negative letters separately; that order has been maintained. Mary Ann Sorrentino donated all of the negative letters she received, but screened the positive ones and did not donate those that she thought should remain confidential.