Reclaiming Our Children: A Blog About Healing After Abortion

While no one loves mercy more than me, I must admit I was a little taken aback when reading the article about the idea of special missionaries to reach out to women who have had an abortion in the “Year of Mercy”. It seemed as if the “brand” of the world’s worst sinner, something many of us felt, was being burnt onto our skin, forever to stay. Others I have spoken to felt the same.

Women know abortion is a grievous sin. In fact, who knows more than they do the damage it does?  They have lost their child, they're suffering, they live with it every day of their lives, but to single out this one sin seemed, okay, I’ll say it, "unmerciful" to me.

I know that totally was not the intention. I also know the media may be getting this all wrong and so part of me was hesitant to write this, but at the same time, I know  it needs to be addressed.

I am sure the intention of the church comes from a good place and a desire for reconciliation, but I also know that for many women it does not “feel” that way.

Countless numbers of women are out there deadening their pain with vices, and even many of those who reach out for mercy, find themselves confessing over and over again because they do not believe this sin can be forgiven. Special circumstances for just the sin of abortion validates that mistaken belief. Hey, it really is the  “unforgivable” sin that needs a special outreach!

It also worries me that women out there separated from the church have just had their fears confirmed and now will be even more afraid to come forward. Why headline just the women?

Also, many priests have the ability to forgive abortion and the things I have read make it seem like only a bishop or the pope can offer absolution for abortion. Imagine someone who has been to confession thinking they are forgiven (and they are) reading that?

With millions of abortions there are certainly countless people to reach with God unfathomable mercy, but I personally believe, instead of focusing on the sin we need to focus on  Jesus and the Mercy itself.

It is only through knowing that mercy, no matter what the sin, or how grievous it is ( there are many grievous sins, abortion being one of them) that anyone would feel safe coming forward to confess . It is in the light of that mercy that we are able to look at the depths of our sinfulness because He is then there with His unconditional love for us if we have contrition

Missionaries of mercy are wonderful…we all need to hear that message, but  it is that message that is important, not the particular sin or a message that will shame them more and make them more fearful to come forward.

Should we be branded as women who have had abortions? Perhaps the answer is yes, but with the brand of mercy, once forgiven. That is the thing that will make others trust they can come forward and be embraced by the church because we have personally come to know and experience  the forgiveness of God and are a living voice to that mercy.