Reclaiming Our Children: A Blog About Healing After Abortion

In an article from Zenit news on the Popes new book, "Jesus of Nazareth" Volume 2, we are told Pope Benedict notes Judas' second tragedy.

Benedict's new book on Jesus examines the mystery of the apostle who betrayed Our Lord. The Pope says Judas lived two tragedies: the betrayal and the "wrong type of remorse" — a remorse that is "unable to hope."

He goes on to say:

"But the betrayer endures a "second tragedy," the Pontiff writes. "[H]e can no longer believe in forgiveness. His remorse turns into despair. Now he sees only himself and his darkness; he no longer sees the light of Jesus, which can illumine and overcome the darkness. "

"He shows us the wrong type of remorse: the type that is unable to hope, that sees only its own darkness, the type that is destructive and in no way authentic. Genuine remorse is marked by the certainty of hope born of faith in the superior power of the light that was made flesh in Jesus."

Many post abortive women also live the same type of remorse as Judas. A remorse that locks them into their despair, self hatred and shame and guilt that comes from looking at their sinfulness instead of a remorse that allows them to believe and hope in the love and forgiveness of Jesus Christ who heals.

I wrote an article on this called "Judas and Me"in 2003,  in relation to my own healing. It was published in the Elliot Institues "Post Abortion Review"

Judas and Me

Theresa Bonopartis

I can always remember thinking as a kid that I never would have betrayed Jesus like Judas had done. I couldn’t understand how he could have made that choice. It all seemed so obvious.

Now, years later and hopefully wiser, I see that I am not so different than Judas. We both thought we knew better than Jesus.

Instead of trusting in the love Jesus had for him and believing Jesus had his best interest at heart, Judas took the situation at hand on himself. Jesus was not doing things the way Judas thought He should be and the Scribes and Pharisees were looking for someone to sell Jesus out. Judas fell right into their hands, betraying Jesus for 30 pieces of silver.

After the arrest, Judas felt instant remorse. The light went on and he realized what a grave mistake he had made. He realized he had sinned, “betraying innocent life.” Judas returned to the Scribes and Pharisees and gave them back the 30 pieces of silver, but they wanted no part of him anymore. They had accomplished what they had set out to do and now told him in his despair, “What do we care about that? It is your business.”

If Judas had gone to Jesus even then, if he had asked forgiveness and trusted in His love and mercy, things would have turned out differently for him. Jesus no doubt would have forgiven him and we probably would be reading the book of Judas in the Bible, speaking about the unfathomable mercy and love Jesus had shown him.

But Judas did not do that; his pride and continued lack of trust held him back. Instead of admitting what he had done and seeking forgiveness he gave in to despair and went and hanged himself.

When I think of my abortion, I realize I too sold Jesus out. I did not trust in the love and mercy of God or His divine providence enough to know He would have taken care of both me and my unborn child. I decided to give in to pressure, to trust that others knew better than God. I decided to allow my abortion to happen.

You can read the rest here: http://afterabortion.org/2003/judas-and-me/