Reclaiming Our Children: A Blog About Healing After Abortion

In spite of how untrue it is, many people involved in abortion do not believe that the Catholic Church would welcome them back. They still think it is the "unforgivable sin". I think this comes from both us and the secular media. They make it seem like we are unforgiving, and we do not offer forgiveness or speak about it enough although, we have gotten much better. I will never forget the time a woman came to the ministry because she saw an ad for our “Entering Canaan” post abortion ministry in her bulletin and was so desperate for healing, she was willing to try anything. However,she thought when she got there we were going to yell at her, and the compassion was a ploy to get her to come in!!! Crazy, but given what is written about the church,understandable.

I think that it is because we have often spoken of the wrong of abortion, but until recently, the mercy of God for those who have aborted was not spoken of. One of the things I always say when we do priest trainings is that one should never be mentioned without the other. We always need to say how wrong
abortion is, but we also always need to follow it with the fact of a forgiving and merciful God who welcomes us back. Many priests are afraid to offend those who are post abortive, so they do not mention it, but with over 53 million abortions post abortive people are everywhere, even in our pews, and they are waiting to hear a word of hope. An invitation to healing.

The church has always been there offering forgiveness; we just do not talk about it as much as we should. I think some people are afraid to because they think if we do, people are going to think they can abort because they know they can be forgiven. I guess in some ways there is a truth to that because there are some abortion clinics that have “clergy” present during abortions who say "God understands, don’t you think He will forgive you?" while they are actually in the process of killing their child, which of course, is very different. They also have cards to send people who have abortions that downplay the act of abortion. They forget you have to be contrite and have firm purpose of amending your life. There are also grave consequences that they will suffer in spite of contrition and yes, even forgiveness.Healing is a process.

In many ways, confession is the beginning of healing. I believe you cannot look at the horror of your abortion until you know the love and forgiveness of God. Knowing His unconditional love is what allows you to look at your abortion honestly…until you know that it is just too horrific to look at. That is why people rationalize and justify etc etc, because they would not be able to stand it…the ones who do not
and do not know God suffer with depression and other  mental illness,suicidal ideation, addictions etc etc. Some have even ended their lives.

I had mixed feelings about the offer at WYD…I recognize it is because of the change  in Spain, and, of course, it is wonderful to focus on his forgiveness, and I pray Many avail themselves o f it, but in some ways I was concerned. I wonder if such a focus at an event like this would make some people feel more intensely what they already have been telling themselves…that they are the "worst"
sinners…why just this sin is mentioned and not other grave sins? It certainly could have been given attention in the context of any talk, but, like I said, I recognize it is because of the situation in Spain.

I also was concerned that people who have received the sacrament already may be concerned that the priest they went to did not have the ability to forgive abortion. (In fact, I have already gotten calls about that.)

Lastly, I knew the pro choicers would have a feast with it all, misrepresenting what was said and what is going on, and they are…I even read an article that got me going because it only spoke about women. Talk about a scarlet letter…but then I thought of the woman caught in adultery. I kept searching until I found an article that was better from EWTN

In the end I just pray that many come to His mercy because no sin is unforgivable and His desire is for us who are post abortive to be reunited with Him and with our children in eternity.