There are now six billion people on the planet with another four or five billion on the way in the next fifty years, according to Daniel C. Maguire, Professor of Ethics in the Theology Department of Marquette University. Most of the increase will come in the poorest parts of the world. According to John Bongaarts of the Population Council, one-third of the population growth in the next century will be due to lack of family planning that poor people want but can't afford.

Traditionally, the world's religions have been seen as advocating no choice teachings on contraception and abortion. But Maguire demonstrates in this paperback that Roman Catholicism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, Judaism, Islam, Protestant Christianity, and Native Americans are open to family planning, including contraception and also abortion as a backup when necessary.

Maguire and the experts on hand to discuss the sacred choices of each religious tradition are clear that overpopulation, poverty, and the irresponsibility of "the well salaried and the well-caloried" are causing havoc in the earth's life-support systems. To illustrate the latter group, the author points out that the 2.9 million people in Chicago consume more than the 100 million plus people in Bangladesh. Not only must the pro-choice option come through more clearly in the world's religions but more believers must serve the common good by walking the talk of justice, compassion, love, and kindness.