« October 2015 | Main | December 2015 »
Came across this video done by Julie Woodley and Roman Jaquez some years ago . Do not know how they did it but they truly put me back to the day of my abortion. I remember feeling like I was 17 again and being there in my head, yet feeling like a totally different person now through my healing.
I am so very grateful to God for what He has done for me and will spend my life proclaiming His love and mercy which is there for each and every one of us!
| | |
|
I usually try to stay away from this stuff, but I found the comments on Facebook regarding the following article so disturbing I had to address them.
All I can think about are the women and men who have not come forward for healing from an abortion reading the same comments and running in the opposite direction. So many are feeling and thinking, "I have committed the unforgivable sin."
The article, "Woman's Post-Abortion Infection Was So Severe She had to Have both Hands and Feet Amputated," was posted on Lifenews.com on November 4th. Kristi Burton Brown writes about a French woman, Priscilla Dray, who lost both her hands and feet due to an infection she received from an abortion.
Already a mom, the article states that Priscilla and her husband had three children and thought they did not need another, so, when she got pregnant with a fourth, they made the decision to abort. I would like to pause here for a moment and clearly state that while the statement is understandable, we know nothing about the circumstances surrounding their decision, so, while never condoning abortion, to somehow attempt to simplify the reasons behind their decision without knowing them seems presumptuous.
Abortion is always wrong and no one is condoning the choice to kill an unborn baby, however, we need to recognize there is more than one way to kill someone. We can physically kill a body, (always wrong), but we can also kill a soul, (also always wrong) by sending it into despair and making the hope of reconciliation seem impossible, leaving those separated from God feeling they never can return thereby validating their belief that abortion is unforgivable.
Both of these "deaths" are displeasing in God's eyes. In fact, the later may be even worse, for while the innocent unborn are in His care, those who are spiritually dead may never open themselves to God's mercy if they read comments like the ones I saw on this article this morning.
"Terrible, but at least she got to feel a little of what her baby felt when it was torn limb by limb from the protection of its mother’s womb, sore lesson for this girl, God help her."
"Serves her right. Now she knows the feeling being botch into pieces."
"Now she knows how it feels, and karma, if they already had three but didn't want their fourth , they should of used protect, or had her tubes tied or hi a vasectomy, I feel nothing for her, besides she got what she deserves, it was nothing to her when her baby was being torn apart.. She will have to answer for her actions one day.”
"I hate to even say this as a Christian but you reap what you sow If she had had more compassion for her unborn child she would never be where she is now. She is missing her limbs because of her own selfish choices and I can't help it but I do not feel sorry for her one bit."
I could go on, but you get the picture.
There is no doubt abortion is ALWAYS wrong, and we certainly can judge abortion, but the tragic absence of compassion and the judgment on this woman is amazing. As Jesus said, those of you who have no sin throw the first stone, and, you will receive the mercy you have shown.
Although most comments were merciless, in fairness there were some good comments too.
"Please remember that the Bible tells us that we will be judged with the same measure we use to judge people. It's very, very, sad that this baby and countless others were lost to abortion. However being ugly and saying hateful things does not help save lives. This woman's life is incredibly precious to God, and so should be precious to us."
"Some of you people have made downright evil comments and let me tell you God doesn't like ugly. I am pro-life. Abortion is murder and I am totally against them. All that aside, sin is sin and she should not be judged based on your interpretation of sin. God is full of mercy and grace!"
I am post abortive. I will be the first to admit how wrong, and what a horrific sin abortion is. In fact, I would say those of you who have not aborted do not know as well as I do. I would also say, that I deserve damnation for it. To those of you who would judge us so fiercely, don't worry, we live with the consequence of our horrific sin every day of our lives, and nothing you can say would be worse than what we have told ourselves. But, in some ways, once we are healed, we are more blessed than you are. Why? Because we know we are terrible sinners in need of God's mercy.
Not everyone who has been involved in abortion has the same culpability. No one knows what was going on in someone’s life. Many women are coerced, and many did not know the entire truth of abortion. These things never make it right, but that is why ONLY GOD can judge someone who has participated in abortion or, for that matter, any sin. We can judge the sin, but it is God's role to judge the sinner.
And that is the beauty of redemption. That when we were lost and separated from Him through our sinfulness, He came to earth in order to open the doors of heaven to us through His suffering, death and resurrection. He died on the cross for our sins, even the sin of abortion. Imagine the experience of His love and mercy for those who have shown contrition for so great a sin and are forgiven because of His love for us and His desire for our salvation. Imagine the gratitude we would have for Him, and the desire to serve Him in this life and the next because of the mercy He has shown us.
So, before you judge, and slam the door in the face of those who have participated in this terrible sin of abortion, think of what you will say to God when he shows you those who gave up hope and despaired because of your comments. Maybe even those who were led to further sin or even suicide because of your comments.
To those post abortive I say, keep your eyes on Christ. No, we do not deserve forgiveness, healing, and mercy, but that is the wonderful thing; that in spite of our sins, He loves us. Our healing comes from what He did, not what we did or can do to "make up" for our abortion. We can never make up for it, which makes it all the more amazing.
This truth then calls us to be more and more compassionate to other sinners; even those who would wish for our eternal damnation.
Jesus, we trust in you!
| | |
|
Ok. I have to admit that one of my pet peeves is the refusal of those who are pro-abortion to acknowledge that there is a community of postabortive people out there speaking out against abortion. It is as if the proabortion population is deaf, dumb, and blind, refusing to see or acknowledge our existence and insisting on throwing us into the label of prolife. It would be far too dangerous for them to do otherwise.
It is true that now, most of those who are postabortive and speaking out are probably pro life. That is what happens when the scales fall away and you see and experience the truth. It may take a while (even decades for some), but it comes about as a result of buying into the lies of abortion, then living with all its negative consequences. It comes from knowing the truth.
So, today when I read the Media Matters article, "It’s About Time Television Turned Away From Abortion Stigma," I thought, “here they go again…yep, that must be it! TV causes pain for women, TV stigma and prolife people, not abortion itself!
TV? Really? How desperate can you get?
The concept is ridiculous and deeply flawed. As usual, the actual facts of what abortion is is not addressed in the article. Instead, abortion is called “a common reproductive choice." If it is so common and without consequences, why not call it what it is? Why not call it the termination of an unborn child in the womb?
Stigma exists because it is not natural for a woman to participate in her child’s death, and it is far from a “routine medical procedure," thank God! Seriously, do we really want abortion to become so routine that we lump it in with our yearly physical exams?
The author of the article, Rachel Larris, seems to think if only television would frame abortion as falling within the bounds of normal behavior, all would be well, and no one would feel regret or stigma again. Instead of abortion being the “tragedy,” we see portrayed on TV, we would hear “positive abortion stories."
No matter what the circumstances or feelings surrounding abortion, is it really ever a positive thing to kill an unborn child? Most women, no matter how much they feel they needed an abortion, or even think they made the right choice, do not think of it as a “positive” experience. I also wonder, why don't we not hear them as up in arms about coerced abortion ? Countless numbers of women are coerced to have an abortion by boyfriends, husbands, parents, jobs, and even friends. They are deaf to that!
Larris then goes on to tell us that abortion is “safe." I wonder if she has spoken to the families of the women who have died, like Lakisha Wilson, 22, or Jennifer Morbelli, or many others. These were real women Rachel! Or how about those women who have been left barren, or suffered emotionally from abortion. I guess she is deaf and blind to them as well, she certainly is mute. Sadly, the misinformation Larris tries to pin on others is overly abundant in her own article.
“American television has been reinforcing a dangerous right wing campaign to shame American women, Larris states. Those of us who are post abortive and have been there would tell you differently. The pro life movement has not instilled shame, religion has not instilled shame, and certainly TV is not to blame. Shame and stigma from abortion comes from our unique instincts as women and mothers, instincts that call us to protect our children, born and unborn.
Which brings me back to my pet peeve. Call me what I am, a woman who found out the hard way the truth of what abortion is and does. No amount of TV shows saying otherwise erase the stigma or change the truth of that.
| | |
|
Why Post Abortion Healing and Pro Life Need to Go Hand in Hand
As we approach the 43rd anniversary of Roe vs. Wade, we acknowledge our nation has suffered devastation like no other. Over 57 million unborn children have died in the womb. These are not abstract children, but children with mothers, fathers, grandparents, and siblings. They are part of someone’s family.
St. John Paul II, in the Gospel of Life took time to specifically address the mothers of these children. His comforting words have brought solace to many who sadly, chose to end the life of their child by abortion.
"I would now like to say a special word to women who have had an abortion. The Church is aware of the many factors which may have influenced your decision, and she does not doubt that in many case’s it was a painful and even shattering decision. The wound in your heart may not yet have healed. Certainly what happened was and remains terribly wrong. But do not give in to discouragement and do not lose hope. Try rather to understand what happened and face it honestly. If you have not already done so, give yourselves over with humility and trust to repentance. The Father of mercies is ready to give you his forgiveness and his peace in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. To the same Father and to his mercy you can with sure hope entrust your child. With the friendly and expert help and advice of other people, and as a result of your own painful experience, you can be among the most eloquent defenders of everyone's right to life. Through your commitment to life, whether by accepting the birth of other children or by welcoming and caring for those most in need of someone to be close to them, you will become promoters of a new way of looking at human life.”
(Evangelium Vitae (The Gospel of Life), #99)
One only has to meditate briefly on the words above to recognize the astounding impact one abortion has on a family and on our nation. We live in a world wounded by abortion and although it continues to be denied in the secular world, the negative consequences are staggering.
While Post Abortion Stress Syndrome (PASS),continues to be fiercely denied by the pro abortion lobby, one only has to look at the number of ministries and other resources popping up to aide those who seek help after abortion to recognize the very real and very dangerous damage that has been done. In fact, if the damage were nonexistent, those groups would not need to put the effort into debunking PASS at all. However, the truth is that as more and more resources materialize and as people reach healing, the message will begin to resound louder and louder and more of those silenced by the implication that they have no right to suffer will come forward to find the help they need to heal.
It always amazes me that in secular studies that deny the risks and ramifications of abortion, organizations that actually minister to those suffering are never contacted for input. One has to wonder where they are getting the women they speak to. Surely, from the pro abortion ranks. There is such a reluctance to validate the feelings of those who have had an adverse reaction to abortion, as if participating in the taking the life of your child was something so extreme. In reality, it makes complete sense.
In the past twenty‑five years, countless numbers of women have come forward for healing, and though still just breaking the ice over the last fifteen years or so, the fathers of the babies who have been aborted are also stumbling out of the darkness looking for healing.
The impact abortion has on marital relationships is significant whether the abortion was with the spouse or had happened before the marriage. As one of our men married to someone who had an abortion in her teens said, “looking back over our 29 years of marriage, it is probably the one thing from both of our pasts that has affected our marriage more than any other.” Whether hiding the secret and living in the fear of being found out, or dealing with the devastation of Post Abortion Stress Syndrome, there is no denying that abortion impacts millions of relationships in our country.
Over the past six years, with some resources now available, the siblings of aborted children are also coming forward for help. Whether openly supported by their parents, or asked to hold the secret, their lives are often filled with conflicting feelings of love and protection for their parents, anger, and grief, sadness, and guilt for living and shattered images of those who protect them.
One only has to listen to the heartbreak and confusion of these siblings to see what an enormous impact this would have on our society.
And the devastation doesn’t stop with siblings. Grandparents, nieces, aunts, uncles, friends… with 57 million abortions – all of us have felt the impact of abortion. We all need healing.
The prolife movement is often inclined to bring those who are post abortive out to tangibly demonstrate the devastation of abortion, But more than that, as we approach the “Year of Mercy,” our inclination should be to seek them out to bring them to the love and mercy of God because that is HIS desire. The number of souls lost to Him because of abortion is staggering, and as we each know, every life is precious in His sight, not only the unborn, but yes, even those who participated in their deaths.
We need to give voice to these women, men, and siblings, not just only to show the evil of abortion, but because we are called to be the face of Christ to them. We need to care about their souls. We need to allow them to speak for their children and to give them back the God-given right to their children through His grace, mercy and forgiveness. We need, on a spiritual level, to help to reunite families through healing and acknowledging those lost through abortion. While speaking about the wrong of abortion, we need at the same time, to love, and not judge, those who are wounded in our nation.
As Dave Reardon, Ph.D. of the Elliot Institute says in his book The Jericho Plan,
"As a Christian community, however, we are not as far along in learning the lesson of compassion toward those who have actually been involved in abortion. Many good-hearted people continue to recoil in horror at any one who could ‘kill her baby.’ They wonder what kind of monster could do such a thing? For many, judgment comes much easier than compassion because they lack insight into the tremendous pressures and feelings of despair which lead to abortion…
This is the second lesson which we must learn from the abortion holocaust before we can expect to conquer it. We must learn that abortion is an act of despair…
Let it suffice for now to say that Christians must refrain from condemning and judging the women and men who have been involved in abortions. Judging them will not free them from the shame and guilt they already feel. Instead, we must concentrate on sharing with them the hope of God’s great mercy. To do this effectively, we must give them more than our words; we must give them our hearts.”
I have no doubt that if we do this without self‑seeking, but truly because we care for each individual soul, God will surely do the rest in bringing an end to abortion by fulfilling the words of St. John Paul II, who said, “With the friendly and expert help and advice of other people, and as a result of your own painful experience, you can be among the most eloquent defenders of everyone's right to life.”
That is what will end abortion - the humility of those who have been there and received the healing grace, love, and forgiveness of God. Those mothers, fathers, and siblings who now speak to the truth of abortion giving hope to those still suffering, and sure witness to the amazing, transforming Mercy of God.
| | |
|
A repeat from 2014 on this All Souls Day
http://aleteia.org/2014/11/01/are-the-souls-of-aborted-children-with-the-lord/
| | |
|
Blogger Amanda Marcotte has attempted many times to deny the very real feelings and emotions of countless numbers of women who have had abortions. Most people realize Marcotte is off-base and Twitchy.com even published “The 10 dumbest Amanda Marcotte tweets of 2014." Even still, Salon, Slate, and The Guardian often trot her out as a voice of reason and truth in the abortion debate, or perhaps just for shock value.
In 2012, Marcotte penned "Why anti-choice campaigners won't let science get in their way." for The Guardian, which is the same old song that still plays today denying the fact that abortion can be the cause of mental illness. How is it that Marcotte cannot admit that participating in taking the life of your own child can cause mental health problems? Any rational person can understand that, no matter what their views, but not Marcotte!
She claims that there is no evidence to support the claim that abortion can cause mental illness. Of course, she points to the pro-abortion American Psychological Association to validate that claim. (I really wonder where the APA finds the women for its studies, since none of the organizations that offer postabortion help and healing are ever contacted). Predictably, she ignores tons of other studies by other professionals that prove otherwise. But then, it does not take long to recognize women do not really matter to Marcotte, abortion is what she worships.
Aside from any studies, I beg to disagree with Marcotte. Each year, as a post abortion resource, I receive at least 200 new calls from women seeking help because of the adverse impact abortion has had on their mental health. I also know the impact it had on my own life. What would you say to all of us Amanda?
“Unfortunately, the anti-choice community does not have the same regard as the majority psychological community for facts and evidence,” Marcotte states in her article. I say, “Unfortunately, Amanda has no regard or care for the countless numbers of women (not antichoicers) who state what their experience has been." This is the biggest travesty.
Antichoice, pro-choice, whatever you want to call yourself, women who have suffered from abortion deserve to have their voices heard and their very real experiences validated. Maybe Marcotte does not believe that, but guess what, we don’t care. We will continue to speak out about the adverse impact of abortion on our lives in the hope that professionals and others will acknowledge the pain and properly treat those who seek help, not make them feel crazy for their feelings like has happened to so many so often in the past.
Alice, I mean Amanda, may still be living in Wonderland, but the rest of us are dealing with the very real reality of the mental distress after abortion and we will keep speaking out until the rest of the world acknowledges the pain. Time to come up from your rabbit hole Alic... I mean, Amanda.
************
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.
Email us at [email protected]
Call us at 1-877-586-4621 or 1-718-881-8008
| | |
|