Reclaiming Our Children

At The Mary Pickford Theatre

I am looking to see this...

Thursday, May 8 (7:00pm)http://www.loc.gov/rr/mopic/pickford/pickford-current.html

Family Life, a.k.a. Wednesday’s Child (Kestrel Films, U.K., 1971). Dir Ken Loach. Wrt David Mercer, from his TV play "In Two Minds." With Sandy Ratcliff, Bill Dean, Grace Cave, Malcom Tierney, Hilary Martyn, Michael Riddall. (108 min, Technicolor, 35mm)

In this rarely seen early drama by British director Ken Loach, the generation gap between an emotionally confused teenage girl and her rigid, puritan-minded parents serves as the backdrop for the film’s austere "cinéma vérité" style. Janice, an otherwise normal young woman, suffers a breakdown after having an abortion and winds up in a state medical hospital. Her unruly behavior (she throws tantrums, destroys objects, and has extreme mood shifts) embarrasses her parents, who make weekly visits to demonstrate their love, in spite of Janice’s unacceptable behavior. Reminiscent of European, documentary-inspired films of the ‘60’s, Family Life focuses less on character development and drama, and more on revealing the subtle complexities that undercut family life.

here is a brief review http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1007062-family_life/

Lifting the Veil through Faith

With the approach of Mother’s Day comes the rise of anxiety, guilt and fear for many women who are post abortive. There is just no getting past the pain of the loss, and worse yet, the fact that you contributed to the death of your own child.

 I can remember clearly one Mother’s Day that I spent in deep depression and excruciating pain, walking around town pushing my two living children around in a stroller while crying uncontrollably. I thought I was going crazy, completely unaware that my grief had its source in an abortion I had had more than 15 years prior.

 Thinking of my aborted son was something I did not allow myself to do. I had seen actually him after the saline abortion I had undergone as a teen through pressure from my dad. It was just too painful to think of him. Denial allowed me to pretend it had never happened and he was not real, although in my heart it was always there somewhere.

 When I did manage to think of him, all I felt was pain and condemnation. Constant condemnation.  I was certain he would be waiting for me on my judgment day, standing along side of God so he could be sure to point me out as the one who had him killed. It was a terrifying thought that stayed with me for many years.

 Things are different now. Through my healing and the lifting of the veil through faith, I now cherish thoughts of my son.  He is as alive to me in faith, as my children who walk this earth.

 Of course, I will always be sorry I had the abortion. Abortion is always wrong no matter what the situation, but I now know, in both my head and heart, that my son Joshua is alive, “living in the Lord”. (Gospel of Life; JPII)

 I have reclaimed Joshua as my son and he is part of my daily life…not a life full of fear and mourning, but one full of faith and hope. I still believe he is standing along side of God to greet me at my judgment, but not with condemnation. He stands there with joyful anticipation because I have come to know the mercy and forgiveness of God. I now know that they love me and desire my salvation so that we can be together for all eternity.

 As we celebrate this Mothers day, let those of us who have made the horrible decision to have an abortion, find joy in the fact that our children are present to us now in spirit and living with the Lord longing for our healing and peace.

 May Mary, the Mother of Mercy, lead to her Son in heaven, there to find our children standing beside Him.

 Theresa

 

 

 

 

Always Mercy

The talk on Saturday went well, all thanks be to God.I always love the opportunity to speak of tHis mercy and in His goodness, He never fails to bring some hurting forward.

While I was giving my talk, Mother Agnes, SV, and Sr Marija Joseph who works with me in the ministry, both participated in the "Oil on the Wounds" conference that took place in Rome during the Divine Mercy Congress this past week. From what I have heard so far (they are just back) much grace abounded .

According to sister, "The "Oil on the Wounds" made the front page of 2 secular papers in Rome addressing the suffering of children of divorce and those who suffer from abortion.  His Holiness gave a 5 or 6 page address  speaking about these 2 crucial issues which will be sure to be printed in the next L'Obsservatore Romano."

It is so wonderful to see the message of His Mercy spreading....

here are a couple of pictures from the breakfast

Alan Meldeau and myself

Alan, Judy Anderson who was honored, and myself (in green)

Divorce, abortion an offence to God the Pope says

But he also called on people "to be merciful to those who had experienced such events."

"The Church has the duty to be close to these people with love and delicacy," the pope added.

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=080405192022.q4z4aoz6&show_article=1

I pray that this message of the congress reaches many...

Breakfast

Today I speak at a breakfast sponsored by the Life Center in Katonah, NY.
Alan Meldeau heads up the Life Center and has been a great pro life advocate for many years tirelessly working to protect women and children from abortion.

Alan had asked me to give my testimony this morning. I have to admit I sometimes get sick of telling my story after over 15 years of doing this work, but then, I opened a site on the Divine Mercy Congress which convened in Rome this week and read what Pope Benedict said in his opening statements

"In fact, only Divine Mercy is capable of limiting evil; only God's all-powerful love can overcome the arrogance of the wicked, and the destructive power of selfishness and hatred," the Holy Father said in his homily. " And of Pope John Paul II he said"He wanted the message of the merciful love of God to reach all humanity, and he exhorted the faithful to be witnesses of it. "

I had given the talk of my witness the title "Where Mercy Meets Faithfulness". It suddenly became clearly, exactly what God wanted me to speak of at the breakfast....

You can read the rest of the article on the Divine Mercy Congress here  http://www.marian.org/news.php?NID=3122

Please keep it in your prayers this week as the message of God's great love for us goes out to the whole world...

Senate Bill Would Protect Women From Botched Abortions,

"Three members of the U.S. Senate have introduced new legislation to protect pregnant women from the aftereffects of  a botched abortion. The bill requires abortion practitioners to have admitting privileges at a local hospital to be able to admit a woman suffering from life-threatening medical concerns after a failed abortion...."

http://www.lifenews.com/nat3834.html

I kind of find it amazing that we would have to pass legislation to ensure women can be admitted to a hospital for a blotched abortion when abortion is a surgical procedure.

Glad someone is doing something about this...

Girls and Sexuality

This editorial was in my local Gannett paper... http://www.lohud.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080331/OPINION/803310303/1015/OPINION01

here is the response sent in by Mary (my volunteer & myself)Hopefully they print it:

Community View

Your editorial “Girls and Sexuality” reads like it came out of a play book for Planned Parenthood who you even endorse in its content. The repeated mantra that abstinence does not work ( of course perpetuated by groups like Planned Parenthood) and that comprehensive teaching by groups such as Planned Parenthood do work is ridiculous!

 Planned Parenthood has been giving sexual education for years and the situation only continues to deteriorate. Any parent visiting their “Teen Wire” site would be quick to find out why. Do you want your 13 year old teen to learn “All About Arousal: The Science of Sex”, or perhaps instructions on how to how have vaginal intercourse while using the Nuva Ring?  How about asking the “expert” when your boyfriend makes fun of your vagina, or a questionnaire on masturbation. Oh yes, don’t forget oral sex ..."If you have oral sex, you don't have to lose your virginity, and you don't feel like you are doing something as bad." And that is just the tip of the iceberg!

 The ‘Teen Wire” site also announces that abstinence gets an “F”. No surprise since their business is birth control and abortion and bring in millions of dollars.

 To say that girls under 18 should be able to get the HPV vaccine without parental consent because they can get birth control or an abortion without it, is not a legitimate reason. There are consequences to decisions. Consequences someone so young have no idea about. All too often, a teen can become suicidal as a result of an abortion they had without parental involvement. In recent years we even have documented suicides by girls like Stacey Zalle, who ended her life because of an abortion her parents did not know about until it was too late. Teenage girls share how their parents know they have changed and are distant, but unfortunately, don’t know why because they do not know of the abortion. They are isolated and feel alone without the support of those who truly love them.

You give the example of kids who have no parental guidance, but the truth is, many who choose abortion do so because they do not want to disappoint parents they love and are close to. They believe in the perpetuated quick fix of abortion only to find out it is not so simple.

 You say that “those who simply want make their health and sexual decisions independently and privately” should not need consent. What other issues do we offer this for at that age? Driving? Choosing a college? Drinking? Drug use? No. It is only when it comes to sex that all of a sudden a teen, who is not capable of making such a life altering decision, is all of a sudden mature enough.

 In truth abstinence education is not in most schools, but there is mounting evidence it does work while “comprehensive sex education” is common and obviously doing more and more harm. For the sake of our children I hope parents wake up and educate themselves to what is really going on. Don’t take my word, take a look yourself.  Letting these self proclaimed “experts” make the decisions for our children while raking in the money will only lead to more STD’s, more abortions and unfortunately, more deaths.

Obama..what were you thinking???

"When it comes specifically to HIV/AIDS, the most important prevention is education, which should include -- which should include abstinence  education and teaching the children -- teaching children, you know, that sex is not something casual," he said.          

"But  it should also include -- it should also include other, you know, information about contraception because, look, I've got two daughters.  9 years old and 6 years old," he added.

         

"I   am going to teach them first of all about values and morals. But if  they make a mistake, I don't want them punished with a baby,"   Obama said.

"But if  they make a mistake, I don't want them punished with a baby"

This ignorance of this statement actually made me feel better about his stance on abortion. He does not want them punished by a baby??? He obviously has no clue as to the suffering from an abortion and doe she know contraception fails????
I have no idea if he would be willing to meet with some post abortive women, but I sure would be happy to go. Then again, if he thinks a baby is a "punishment" perhaps abortion is the better option in his eyes.

All I know is, either way, I feel sorry for his girls...