Reclaiming Our Children

Tiller Is No Hero

Please view with caution.  Tiller is no hero to us...

I have to admit I was pretty angry and upset when I
saw the this trailer.  A documentary on the late term abortionist, George Tiller, is scheduled to be released in September 2013.  (HT Jill Stanek)

For those of you who may not remember, Tiller was gunned down in his church a few years back. Killing him was totally wrong, but he is very far from being the hero this documentary wants to make him out to be.

I wonder if the film makers interviewed any of the many couples that he devastated?  Couples who were not told the truth or given options. Couples who saw their aborted babies and realized the deformities were not bad or not there at all. Or even in spite of them, what they had just done was totally wrong and that they had not been given time to think it out, but instead were coerced and pressured to abort.

I wonder if they contacted any places like "Be Not Afraid," where parents who face an adverse prenatal diagnosis can get support and speak to couples who chose to have their babies in spite of that diagnosis. I wonder if they compared the heartache of those who aborted to the peace of those who brought their babies to life and loved them for the time God allowed.  Like Baby James, who was diagnosed prenatally with Osteogenesis Imperfecta Type II and not expected to survive birth.  Baby James was born alive and shared thirty beautiful hours with his family. I am sure the answer to all of these questions is, NO!

During the years I have been doing post abortion work, I have worked with a few couples who went to Tiller after being pressured to abort because of an adverse diagnosis. I have seen the pictures he took after killing their children, "baptising" them, dressing them up and placing them in their parents arms.  He tried to make something so abnormal appear to be totally normal, leaving the parents confused and reeling in their feelings.  I have seen the devastation when they come out of their fog and realize what happened...where are their stories?

Please take some time to read the stories of these parents...

My Darkest Hour
"Ten years ago my husband and I traveled to Kansas to have an abortion.  Even now, after all these years, I try of think of another way to phrase it.  Could it really be that we killed our very wanted child?  Yes, unfortunately, that is exactly what we did on February 7, 1996.

Burying My Aborted Baby
"I’ve often heard people speak about the torment of losing a child and the indescribable feelings of loss and grief. The birthdays not celebrated, the graduations, weddings, the hugs, laughs and tears unshared But, there is an added torment for some of us... the torment of being a parent who was responsible for their child’s demise."

Frankly, I think I will skip the documentary which will be distorted and angled to justify the unjustifiable act of killing these babies and crushing their parents' hearts.

The good news, however, is the same.  God is merciful, understands how it can happen, forgives and restores.

"You will come to understand that nothing is definitively lost..."  Blessed Pope John Paul II

Are you suffering because of an abortion due to an adverse prenatal diagnosis?
There is Hope.  There is Healing.  There is a way out of the darkness.

Visit Lumina at www.postabortionhelp.org
Email us at [email protected]
Call us at 1-877-586-4621 or 1-718-881-8008

 

Are you suffering, or do you know a man who is suffering because of an abortion?
There is Hope.  There is Healing.  There is a way out of the darkness.

The next Entering Canaan Men’s Day of Prayer & Healing
is scheduled for Saturday, November 2, 2013.

Visit Lumina at www.postabortionhelp.org
Email us at [email protected]
Call us at 1-877-586-4621 or 1-718-881-8008

- See more at: http://reclaimingourchildren.typepad.com/lumina_a_ray_of_light_aft/#sthash.Mn7RePu4.dpuf

Julia Holcomb/Cradle My Heart

A great interview with Julia Holcomb on Kim Ketolas show "Cradle My Heart." 

When she was 16 years old, Julia became the legal ward of Steven Tyler, of the rock band Aerosmith. 

At age 17, when she was over 5 months pregnant with Tyler’s child, she was coerced into a saline abortion.

Worth the time to listen! Click here to listen to Julie's story. 

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Texas Bill

I Didn’t Have a Choice

In October of 2006 I found out I was going to be a Father. My girlfriend of 6 months was pregnant with our child. Neither of us planned this pregnancy, or had even talked about the possibility of getting pregnant. That was about to become my biggest regret. Like I said, I wasn’t ready to have a child. She said she couldn’t go forth in having a child and needed to abort. She went to the nursing staff at Boston College a week or two after she found out she was pregnant. The nurse at BC told her that she would be better off having an abortion, and told her where she could get one. I didn’t make a big deal of it at the time because I wanted her to stay calm and positive. I brought her to a crisis pregnancy center in Boston when she was 5 weeks pregnant, so that she could explore her options other than having an abortion. The women at the center set up a date for her to get an ultrasound so she could see her child. We went to get her first ultrasound when she was 5 weeks pregnant. We weren’t able to see much at this point, but we did see the heartbeat of our child. The technologist said it was too early in the pregnancy to see our baby, and to come back in 2 1/2- 3 weeks. We came back 3 weeks later for another ultrasound, and that’s when we saw our baby. Our child was at 8 weeks gestation and had fingers, toes, eyes, everything. I saw and heard my child’s heart beat and I cried. It was a very overwhelming and beautiful experience for me, until she looked over at me and said, “What are you crying about? Worms have heartbeats too.” Her sister had offered to pay $500 for her to get an abortion. She insisted she was going to get the abortion, was planning to get one that weekend, and broke up with me right before.

I called the abortion clinic and asked what my rights were; they said, “You don’t have any." I then asked them, “What do you do with the aborted babies? I want to bury my child.” They told me that it wasn’t a child, it was a fetus, and to never call again or they would involve the police. My hands were tied. I, as a father, had no legal right to protect my child from a death committed by a “doctor.” I called everyone imaginable to see what my rights were and I got the same answer: “nothing.” 

The week before my child was aborted; I went to try one more time to ask the mother of my child to not do this. But she was adamant about having an abortion, and told me to leave. So I then asked her if I could do one thing before I left, she told me that was fine. I then got on my knees and kissed the stomach of the mother of my child and said, “I love you, and Daddy will see you in heaven.” I then took the ultrasound pictures and left.

The day my child was aborted was a very painful day for me. I was informed that my child had been aborted in the afternoon on December 2, 2006. It was the most painful experience I have ever been through. My relationship ended with the woman that I thought I was going to marry, and I lost my first child. I didn’t want to go on, I was in too much pain. I didn’t eat. I didn’t sleep. I had nightmares of my child being aborted. The day after my child was aborted, I went to see my pastor and he suggested that I have a memorial for my unborn child. I took his advice, and had one the following Sunday at his church. I had my parents and a few friends come. It was a short ceremony, but very painful. I never thought that my child would meet God before I did.

After that day things were still very painful. I still couldn’t sleep or eat, and thoughts of suicide filled my head every waking hour. I joined Bible studies, and post abortion Bible studies as much as possible. Those were the only people that would understand. There were times that I wouldn’t even receive support at church. A man is really not allowed to grieve the loss of his unborn baby. I was told things like: “Your child wasn’t even born, so get over it,”“It wasn’t a baby yet,” or even people saying, “Your child deserved to die.” None of those things helped me heal and just put me in more of a state of depression.

That winter I was invited to a Right to Life march in Concord, NH. I thought it might be healing, so I went. While I was there, I met a man that ran crisis pregnancy centers in NYC. After speaking to him for awhile, he invited me down to NYC for the summer. I decided to go down and give it a shot.

On July 12th 2007, the day my child was supposed to be born, I went to NYC to serve God and help men and women in situations like I was in. While I was there, I counseled around 500 men and women, and through God, saved at least 100 lives from abortion. I continued to do this work in Manchester, NH by sidewalk counseling, counseling in centers, coordinated 40 Days for Life in New Hampshire, and started speaking to different Churches and events, sharing my testimony and how abortion affects men. I recently moved to Florida where I am doing the same work. Even though I never got to meet my child, I miss my baby every single day. I know my child is now in the arms of Jesus and I will meet him and hold him in heaven.  ~Theo Purington

Are you suffering, or do you know a man who is suffering because of an abortion?
There is Hope.  There is Healing.  There is a way out of the darkness.

The next Entering Canaan Men’s Day of Prayer & Healing
is scheduled for Saturday, November 2, 2013.

Visit Lumina at www.postabortionhelp.org
Email us at [email protected]
Call us at 1-877-586-4621 or 1-718-881-8008

Word has it that the next world Youth day 2016 will be in Kracow, Poland..hmmm. Let's see Divine Mercy, Our Lady of Czestochowa....start saving!!!!

Our Hearts are Restless

If I could change anything about my life it would be to never have aborted my two children. But I did it, and there is no turning back.

Since facing my abortions, my life had been a nightmare, but also a wake up call.  I had no other choice but to take the opportunity to take a closer look at myself and the way I was living my life. I was desperate and had to do something. My life was in danger because of the depression I was living in.

That’s when I was blessed to come across Lumina while browsing on the web looking for support.  I emailed the site and got a call right away. For the first time, I felt understood and comforted.  I was also a bit puzzled that a stranger would read into me so well and would help me more than my loved ones.

As much as I was touched to have found someone that offered me genuine help, I was also wondering why a stranger would be so concerned and care so much for me. What did she want in return? Was it a trick to bring me back to faith? At the time I didn’t need any religion to know that I killed my two babies and I was convinced that turning to God would just make it worse.

Theresa kept calling me even when I wasn’t returning her calls or when I wasn’t responding to what she had to offer. She kept caring for me unconditionally while I thought I wasn’t worth so much attention and support.

It finally took me a lot of courage to attend the Entering Canaan Day of Hope & Healing for post-abortive women in the Bronx developed by Theresa & the Sisters of Life. I did all I could within myself to avoid going, but my despair was greater than my fear, so I finally went. That’s when everything began to change.

That day something happened to me. I could tell you that I cried like I never cried before. That my entire body ached, and I couldn’t even speak. My pain was too deep to be expressed through words, but I can also tell you that contrary to what I anticipated, I felt safe. No one judged me and I received so much support that I let go and surrender to the pain inside of me. I also learned (and am still learning) words like forgiveness, unconditional love, compassion for others and for myself… but that day the greatest thing also happened to me: God entered my life!

I continued in the ministry attending the weekend retreats and monthly “Gatherings” and slowly processed what was needed for me to face myself and what had happened. Today, I am a changed woman. Not only have accepted my abortions, but I also have a better understanding as to why I got into such self-destructive behaviors in the past. Things have become much clearer. I have a better sense of who I am and I treat myself with more respect and dignity. Of course, there are still steps towards healing, but I am moving forward with God on my side and that’s what matters.

Until my abortions I did not have faith. I spent years in an atheist/hedonist cult.  I didn’t have much hope.  I was depressed, angry at the world, and cynical since I thought I knew better. Now everything has changed. I feel that there is something grander and greater: God. He has forgiven me.  He loves me, supports me, and protects me. For once in my life, there is Hope.

I thought that I would carry my burden and sins forever but, through the sharing in this ministry and also a post abortion group at Midtown Pregnancy Support Center,  I understood that I am not my sins, that when I committed the worst I didn’t know better (now I do), and that God wants me to be free and happy.

And one day, through His mercy and goodness, I’ll meet my children!
Christiane Zufferey

Are you living in darkness and depression after an abortion?
Unable to get past the pain of your loss? 
There is Hope.  There is Healing.  There is a way out of the darkness.
Visit Lumina at www.postabortionhelp.org
Email us at [email protected]
Call us at 1-877-586-4621 or 1-718-881-8008

Are you living in darkness and depression after an abortion?
Unable to get past the pain of your loss? 
There is Hope.  There is Healing.  There is a way out of the darkness.
Visit Lumina at www.postabortionhelp.org
Email us at [email protected]
Call us at 1-877-586-4621 - See more at: http://www.reclaimingourchildren.typepad.com/#sthash.1vAESay6.dpuf

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Former Abortion Business Worker

Former Abortion Business Worker Now a Pro-Life Stalwart
by Kristen Walker, LifeNews.com

One of the most powerful weapons in the pro-life arsenal is the authentic testimony of those who have advocated for and helped provide abortions, and later seen the light.  People like Dr. Bernard Nathanson, Carol Everett, and Abby Johnson have information and insight that will help us win the fight against the abortion industry.

Allentown, Pennsylvania native and mother of three Jewels Green has made the courageous decision to finally speak up for life. In her first public pro-life testimony, she tells Live Action about suffering the pain of abortion as a teenager and later spending several years working in an abortion clinic.

Jewels Green

This is her story:

“My first baby would be 22 this week.

I was a 17-year-old drug-using high school drop-out, but when the lady wearing scrubs told me I was pregnant, I already thought of myself as a new mother.

Everyone wanted me to get an abortion…  except me.

I actually stopped using drugs, went to the library and checked out a book called Under 18 and Pregnant and started to read it to prepare. I scheduled my first prenatal check-up. My boyfriend was relentless. I am deliberately omitting the details of the violence, both real and threatened, but I finally caved in to my boyfriend’s insistence to not have our baby. On January 4, 1989, he took me to the abortion clinic, but I literally ran out in the hope of saving my baby. Two days later, on January 6, 1989, at 9 1/2 weeks gestation, I had an abortion. It nearly killed me. No, not the surgical procedure, the psychological aftermath. I attempted suicide three times after my abortion and finally ended up in an adolescent psychiatric ward of a community hospital for a month to recover.

Read it all here. 

Are you living in darkness and depression after an abortion?
Unable to get past the pain of your loss? 
There is Hope.  There is Healing.  There is a way out of the darkness.
Visit Lumina at www.postabortionhelp.org
Email us at [email protected]
Call us at 1-877-586-4621

Texas Bill Signed Into Law

I am very grateful for people like Allan Parker and Dave Reardon and places like the Elliot Institute and Operation Outcry. I feel like they really get it. They do not separate the babies from the moms and dads as if the “unborn” we speak of all the time do not have parents.

They recognize that ending abortion will come with the truth, the truth of healing. Since 1973 over 54 million abortions have been performed in our country and millions more have been touched by their impact. We are a wounded country with mothers, fathers, grandparents, siblings, and countless other people walking around injured. Some recognize it is from abortion, others have no idea that the dynamics of a decision made to terminate a pregnancy may be the thing impacting their entire lives. There is no question our country needs major healing.

The testimonies of the women from Operation Outcry had a huge impact on the passage of the bill signed by Governor Perry in Texas, that bans abortion after 20 weeks and ensures the safety of women by requiring all abortion facilities to meet the same standards as outpatient surgery. Sounds resonable to me! (Yet in the news - it is billed as extreme or tough. Want to know extreme or tough? Try living the aftermath of an abortion!)

As Dave Reardon often says, who better to speak for the unborn than mothers who mourn? It is through the testimonies of those who have been there that the horror of the truth of abortion cannot be denied.

Of course, healing must come first and not everyone is called to publicly testify, but there is no doubt that these testimonies cannot deny the personal experiences of these women, and are instrumental in changing the hearts of those who support abortion.

I truly believe that if we minister to those suffering the impact of abortion with no other desire than their personal healing, God will take care of the rest. Abortion will end because people will know the truth. Their hearts will change because they will learn that they can be against abortion while at the same time truly supporting the good of women without condemnation.

I pray that as we move forward we will continue to unite the unborn with the parents God gave them. That we will not see it as two separate issues, but as helping the parents to love their children before or after abortion, as God intended.

May the mercy of God move all of our hearts to show the His love and bring those suffering to His healing and forgiveness.

 

Are you living in darkness and depression after an abortion?
Unable to get past the pain of your loss? 
There is Hope.  There is Healing.  There is a way out of the darkness.
Visit Lumina at www.postabortionhelp.org
Email us at [email protected]
Call us at 1-877-586-4621

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Post Abortive Women Need Compassion

Originally published in the Lumina Newsletter for Winter 2004, Sue’s story is the story of millions of post abortive women – all in need of compassion and mercy.

I need your compassion, as do many other women like me.  I am a post-abortive woman.  At the age of 54, I am finally confronting the damage that three abortions have had on me.  I was one of the lucky ones:  I did not suffer any physical damage to my cervix or womb.  But the extent of the emotional, mental and spiritual damage in my life is quite overwhelming to me. 

Here is a bit of my story – my history, my recovery and my healing.

At 18 in the 60’s, I was sexually active and terrified that my parents would find out how I was living my life.  I got pregnant and the father was long gone.  I didn’t even know his last name.  Now what was I supposed to do?  Like many young women at the time I did two things.  I got drunk and I had an abortion.  That seemed to be the answer in those days.  That answer (that choice) scarred me for life.  It changed me forever.

Unbeknownst to me, I spent the next six years running from the anguish going on inside.  My drinking and my promiscuity increased dramatically; I discovered some of those wonderful hippie drugs we all loved; I started a deadly relationship with food and yo-yo dieting, and I fell in love a dozen times and couldn’t make one of the relationships work.  During this time, I did meet the man of my dreams.  He was perfect – well, almost.  He had one flaw – he was married.  So in 1974 when we wound up pregnant, there was only one easy choice – another abortion.  I was so drunk the day of that abortion that I do not remember any of the details.  That day is a fog to me except for one feeling that has remained – a deep pain.

For the next 11 years of my life, my coping tools all got worse – the drinking, the promiscuity, the food problems, and two marriages falling apart.  Then, several things happened that began my long, slow journey of recovery and healing.  God blessed me with a son in 1981 and in 1985, God gave me the gift of sobriety.  My sobriety eventually led me back to my Catholic faith, which I had abandoned in my college days. But my return to my faith did not occur until after I had one more abortion.

In 1991, my married friend and I were pregnant again.  This time I was sober.  This time I wanted to keep the baby.  I was given a choice – the baby or him.  I was angry and hurt.  But after so many years of craziness and foggy thinking, I caved in and had my third abortion.

For 36 years I was an ardent pro-choice advocate until circumstances of one wintry day in 2003 again changed me and the course of my life.  Due to an ice storm, I couldn’t go to my regular church for Sunday Mass.  I went to a church closer to home, and after Mass picked up a church bulletin.  There was a small box ad about Rachel’s Vineyard post-abortion Retreats.  Being the good computer junkie that I am, I jumped online to the web site.  I sat there reading through the site sobbing, with tears streaming down my cheeks.  I knew in my gut that it was time for me to deal with my abortions.

I finally attended my Rachel’s Vineyard Retreat in April 2004.  There are no words to describe this profound experience.  What I write about it is fairly superficial detail.  Thirty-six years of denial, shame, guilt, pain, sadness, and anger came to an end.  I was shown how to look at the abortions through new eyes.  I shared my experiences with 10 other post-abortion women.  This was the first time I had ever told anyone about this part of my life.  The acceptance and love and forgiveness offered to me began my healing.  I faced my three children, named them, and asked for their forgiveness.  Through the miracles of this weekend retreat I know that God has forgiven me, and I am on my way to forgiving myself.

Like all good 60’s kids, I wanted a “quick fix”, although I knew one weekend was not going to fix 36 years of torment.  My healing is a process, a journey just begun.  I made my dead children a promise, which I quote in full, “I promise you that I will no longer be silent about you.  I will not hide in shame or guilt.  I commit to turning our pain and sorrow into something good and positive.  I will find a way to honor your existence and your deaths.  I will let Jesus guide me in memory of you.”

I am discovering many ways of keeping this promise.  I shared my story with my family.  They were all unbelievably caring, loving and supportive.  Again I am blessed.  Not all post-abortion women get such positive, compassionate responses.  Some have families who do not want to hear their stories, who cut them out of their lives, who get angry and mean.  That is not what we need for our healing.  I pray that all families try to understand the depth of the pain of the post-abortion woman and find compassion.

One of the joys of my retreat was the discovery that I can use my God-given talents for writing and speaking to keep my promise and to, perhaps, help others understand the difficulties of the post-abortion journey.  So I am writing letters to editors and articles such as this.  I am speaking out when appropriate.  I walked in a Memorial Day parade this year in memory of Luke, Grace and Benjamin.  I proudly wore a T-shirt that says “Women Regret Abortion.”  I will share my story openly and freely.  I will not hide in silence, guilt or shame any longer.

I am not a politician or a lobbyist.  I am just a 54-year old woman who has discovered what a heavy price I have paid for the three “choices” I made.  I will do my part to make sure that all information is provided to women who are considering an abortion.  I was never informed of what I might experience after the abortions.  My consent was not informed.  I will use my experience to let other post-abortion women who are suffering know they are not alone and that there is healing and forgiveness for them, too.

I pray that you, dear reader, will find compassion in your heart for me and for all post-abortion women.  With compassion we have a chance for understanding and a chance to heal the gaping wounds of all post-abortion women.

Susan Swander, Oregon

Are you living in darkness and depression after an abortion?
Unable to get past the pain of your loss? 
There is Hope.  There is Healing.  There is a way out of the darkness.
Visit Lumina at www.postabortionhelp.org
Email us at [email protected]
Call us at 1-877-586-4621

 

 

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Dream a Little Dream

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Nightmares after Abortion

Oh Bro-choice-ther!

Take a deep breath and then watch this video. I found it kind of refreshing. A bunch of people who are actually telling the truth about why they support abortion. We all knew it, but it just was not verbalized. I kind of give these guys credit for at least speaking the truth.

You have to wonder though, where are Planned Parenthood, NARAL, and all those other groups who claim to have a woman's best interest at heart? And how do the college girls feel about something like this? Are we that far along that it does not even bother them? Do they really threaten "no sex" if guys do not support abortion?

Of course, the thing not mentioned in this video is the death of the millions of unborn babies in order to support their "casual sex."  Also not mentioned is the psychological, spiritual, and often physical impact abortion has had on millions of women and men.

This "freedom of choice" is the worst kind of bondage and, sadly, so many are clueless and caught up in the moment that they do not even realize it until it is too late.

I do know we see many women and men who lived this way in college who are now suffering greatly for their right to have causal sex.  Hopefully they will find the healing that God has offered to them.

 

Are you living in darkness and depression after an abortion?
Unable to get past the pain of your loss? 
There is Hope.  There is Healing.  There is a way out of the darkness.
Visit Lumina at www.postabortionhelp.org
Email us at [email protected]
Call us at 1-877-586-4621

 

Are you living in darkness and depression after an abortion?
Unable to get past the pain of your loss? 
There is Hope.  There is Healing.  There is a way out of the darkness.
Visit Lumina at www.postabortionhelp.org
Email us at [email protected]
Call us at 1-877-586-4621 - See more at: http://reclaimingourchildren.typepad.com/#sthash.6nSlrbdL.dpuf

Walking Pilgrimage to Our Lady of Czestochowa

For those interested, it is that time of year again for the walking pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. Check out this great video by the CFR's!