The following article analyzes a possible application of John Rawls's political conception offustice to a contemporary moral and political debate, with the aim of furthering our understanding ofthe role ofthat theory as a basis for mutual justification in the public discussion of pluralistic societies. For that purpose, the article addresses the abortion debate, showing how Rawls s theory can present reasonable criteria that can further the normative discussion regarding the moral personality ofthe unborn and the solution of a possible conflict of interests between it and her mother from the perspective ofthe basic liberties.