Reclaiming Our Children: A Blog About Healing After Abortion

On March 25 th we will celebrate the 30 th anniversary of the encyclical, Evangelium
Vitae (The Gospel of Life), by St John Paul the II. 

As someone who had an abortion and suffered greatly from its aftermath, I remember
being anxious to read what the Pope would have to say to those of us who had fallen
into this terrible sin.

I can remember getting a copy of the document and searching through it to find a word
of hope. An acceptance and forgiveness of this part of myself that I rejected for so long
living in silent suffering with no place to turn. A longing to hear the mercy of God
through His representative.

Although our stories may be different, this deep pain, guilt, shame and despair
resonated with countless numbers of people I have met over the years in our Entering
Canaan ministry who for one reason or another had terminated the life of their unborn
child.

When I finally came upon the section I had been seeking, I remember being frightened
to actually read it…would we be rejected, forever doomed to hell as I had thought for
many years, or would we find that word of hope we all longed for so desperately?
And then, all of a sudden, the answer was there in #99:

    "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 cases 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 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. 

The relief I felt was immense. In so few words he had answered all the desires of my
heart. Hope, understanding of the pain of the decision, the deep suffering and the
seriousness of the sin but also the limitless mercy of the Father in the faith and

Sacrament of Reconciliation. The entrustment of my son to God the Father, the call to
repentance and the ability to be a promoter of human life. I wept with gratitude for this
gift the pope was giving us. Even in the face of this ultimate lack of love, Gods love
exists to bring us back to Himself.

Now 30 years later so many are still out there in silent suffering who do not know this
message of mercy. Countless numbers of souls, millions, who have been separated
from God because of abortion thinking there is no way back, but there is.

It is my prayer, that as we celebrate this 30 year mark of the Gospel of Life, this
message of hope to those living without hope will be shared during this season of Lent.
As we come upon both Easter and Divine Mercy Sunday in April, Abortion Recovery
Month, may our prayers and works of charity call forth those seeking forgiveness to the
mercy and love of Christ who came to call sinners, suffered, died and resurrected for
those such as these.

I know, I am one of them! Come home to Hos Mercy this Lent!

Theresa Bonopartis
Entering Canaan Ministry
http://www.enteringcanaan.com
enteringcanaan17@gmail.com