| Return to Pro Life Corner |
|
|
|
Herald Editor |
"It is my belief that from the ruin of abortion, God is building a culture of life," said Vicky Thorn, director of Project Rachel’s national office.
Thorn was the keynote speaker at a recent Project Rachel training session hosted by the Office for Family Life of the Arlington Diocese. The session, sponsored by Christians United for Life, attracted diocesan priests, counselors and medical professionals.
Gerri Laird, diocesan coordinator for Project Rachel, said she has witnessed in her ministry a "deep sorrow" from abortion. She said we must establish role models in our families to encourage virtuous relationships, self control, discipline and respect.
Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde addressed the group right before lunch.
Recalling the Gospel passage when Christ forgave the woman caught in adultery, the bishop said the Catholic Church condemns abortion, but also offers forgiveness and healing.
"Changing society requires changing hearts and minds," the bishop said. "God is both just and merciful."
"Those who have abortions are our friends and family members," he said. "When their pain becomes too difficult, we must embrace them through their anguish and draw them back to the Father."
"We are called to respond with God’s compassion," he said. "We must convince them of the beauty and freedom of purity and chastity."
Bishop Loverde then directed specific messages to the various groups in attendance.
To the priests, he said the sacrament of reconciliation is a privilege that only priests possess. He told mental health professionals, "Be not afraid." He reminded high school counselors and physicians that they hold a powerful influence over women. Youth ministers, he said, serve as role models for the people they serve. "You provide unconditional love and hope in young people."
Crisis pregnancy workers on the front line of the battle must remember that in order to save the baby, "first you have to save the mother," he said.
"We have our work cut out for us," Bishop Loverde said. "We are Christ proclaiming the Gospel of Life. We are the hands, feet, hearts and minds of Christ."
The beginning and end must start with the interior life, he said. "You must be reservoirs, not just channels. You must retain something for yourselves.
"We are in a great spiritual conflict. Remain fixed on the Divine Master. Through you, may God’s reconciliation and healing abound for all who seek a new beginning in Christ."
Thorn, the mother of six, said she first became interested in the subject of abortion and its effects on women after she saw how an illegitimate pregnancy impacted her childhood friend from Minnesota. Although the baby was given up for adoption, her friend’s life took a downward spiral into physical and substance abuse.
"I can live with adoption," Thorn said. "I can’t live with abortion."
In 1975, the U.S. Catholic bishops issued a pro-life plan which included post-abortion counseling. It had only been two years since the Supreme Court legalized abortion in its Roe vs. Wade decision.
Women who had abortions weren’t coming forward, Thorn said.
In 1984, 11 years after the Supreme Court decision, post-abortion counseling
was finally put into place. Thorn was working for the Milwaukee Archdiocese
at the time and received permission from Archbishop Rembert Weakland to
sponsor a one-day program. The program spread quickly and
soon became the model for other dioceses. Project Rachel can now be
found in 140 dioceses, as well as Canada, New Zealand and Guam.
Every significant milestone in the history of Project Rachel has taken place on a Marian feast day, Thorn said.
In 1990, the bishops’ established a national office and named Thorn executive director. The Project Rachel web site answers "desperate needs" and offers "profound hope."
Thorn explored the subject of Generation X research. The upper end of Generation X is now in their early 30s. It covers all those born between 1961-81. It is a generation that has grown up on the Pill and legalized abortion. One in three children in America have been aborted.
"They are survivors," Thorn said, "and they know it."
Generation X has witnessed zero population growth, evil child movies, divorce and joint custody. "They are spiritually homeless," she said.
Absentee fathers is the greatest forecaster of teen sexual activity, Thorn said. Single mothers forced to work often bring home unattached partners. This leads to the increased possibility of sexual abuse against the children.
Thorn said we need to understand that there is a normal human reaction to the loss of a baby. Potentially, we have a lot of women who will be feeling the aftermath of abortion. Thirty-seven million women have had abortions. For every woman, there is a father and two sets of grandparents. Half the population of the United States is directly impacted by abortion or they know someone who’s had an abortion, Thorn said.
"It is estimated that 25 percent of U.S. women will have an abortion by age 45."
Where to Get Help
Women in the Arlington Diocese suffering from the aftermath of abortion can receive counseling help by calling the Project Rachel office at 703-276-0373 or by contacting the new website location at: http://multimaxx.com/project-rachel. All phone calls or e-mails remain strictly confidential.
For those women who find themselves pregnant and alone, there are crisis pregnancy services available as well. A Woman’s Choice is located at 6201 Leesburg Pike, #220, Falls Church, Va. 22044, or call 703-538-4305. A-A-A Women for Choice is located at 9380-A Forestwood Lane, Manassas, Va. 22110, or call 703-330-9312. Adoption services are vailable through Catholic Charities of the Arlington Diocese. Call 703-425-0100.
"After the Abortion," a conference on post-abortion trauma, reconciliation and healing will be held Oct. 30 from 9:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Catholic University’s Law School Auditorium. Vicki Thorn, director of the National Office of Post-Abortion Reconciliation and Healing, will be the main presenter.
Copyright ©1999 Arlington Catholic Herald, Inc. All rights reserved.
This article was published in the Arlington
Catholic Herald,
200 N. Glebe Rd., Suite 607, Arlington, VA 22203; Vol 24, No 40,
dated October 14, 1999.
.
E-mail:
letters@catholicherald.com
Fax: 703/524-2782;
Editorial: 703/841-2590;
Advertising: 703/841-2594;
Circulation: 703/841-2565
A note from the Web Master:
It is noteworthy and honorable that some folks are willing to stand up for a ban on Partial-Birth Abortion. Let us not forget that ordinary everyday run of the mill abortion is also murder. We must understand that aborting the life of a baby is murder no matter the method. Because one method of abortion seems to be horrible does not make the other methods less so. We should be horrified and sickened by any abortion regardless of the method. The Fifth Commandment spells it out clearly:
"Thou shalt not kill."
A fetus is a person, a human being with a God given soul.
Imagine the pain the Lord must feel when any abortion occurs. Please
contact both of your Senators and Representative, via letter or phone,
to let them know how horrified you are that abortions are legal and to
stop, once and for all, Partial-Birth abortions and all other abortions
as soon as possible.
| Return to Pro Life Corner | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|