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HERALD Staff Writer |
Myriam Perez is in charge of bringing Project Rachel to the Hispanic community in the Arlington Diocese. In an interview with HERALD staff writer Jose Carnevali, Perez speaks about abortion trauma for Hispanics; explains its impact on the community, and reminds us that the Church is a hospital for sinners and not a hotel for saints. And since we are all sinners, we can accept with open arms, says Perez, all those who want to be reconciled with God, with their lost children, with themselves and with the Church.
You receive a number of calls from Hispanic women at Project Rachel of the Arlington Diocese. What condition are they in when they call?
When Project Rachel receives calls from Hispanic women, generally it has been from 8 to 10 years after their abortion. These women feel isolated, depressed and ashamed. Some have considered suicide and many of them are already on antidepressants. They think they have committed the unforgivable sin.
What are these woman searching for in Project Rachel?
These women are seeking to be understood. They want to know if there are others who are suffering as they are. The three most frequently asked questions are: Do you believe how much I hurt for what I did? Did my baby go to hell? How can I be forgiven for killing my baby? They are seeking spiritual and emotional healing.
What can Project Rachel do for them?
First of all we assure them that their call is completely confidential. We explain to them that Project Rachel is sponsored by the Arlington Catholic Diocese, that we help not only Catholics, but also anyone who is in need of help after an abortion. Many times they have never spoken to anyone about their abortion. This is the moment to hear their story; this is a very important step. Later we explain the trauma of abortion. Like I said earlier, it takes an average of 8 to 10 years for a woman to seek help. During this time they are in a state of denial. According to Fr. Blair Raum, the director of Diocesan Outreach, National Office of Post Abortion Reconciliation and Healing, denial is the woman's natural defense mechanism. Even though she's in denial, she could be feeling guilt, flashbacks of the abortion with panic attacks, depression, nightmares, anger, grief, or anxiety. She could be feeling "stuck/trapped in the past." These symptoms are what trauma counselors who have honestly studied the aftermath of abortion have termed 'post abortion syndrome." When a woman has a miscarriage or loses a child, her family and friends grieve with her. When a woman has an abortion she is told that it was not a baby but just tissue. She is denied the right to mourn. Immediately after she feels a sense of relief and tries to forget the abortion. The problem is that she cannot, because the abortion has so violated her inner being that instead of forgetting it stays on her mind.
Where does the name Project Rachel come from?
The name Project Rachel comes from the Old Testament, in the book of Jeremiah 31:15-17, "Rachel mourns for her children; she refuses to be consoled because her children are no more. Thus says the Lord: Cease you cries of mourning. Wipe the tears from your eyes. The sorrow you have shown shall have its reward. There is hope for your future."
The program was initiated by Vicki Thorn in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee in 1984. In the Arlington Diocese Project Rachel began in 1995.
What is the structure of Project Rachel? Are the services free of charge?
We offer spiritual and psychological help. Every year we bring experts and offer training seminars to all priests who are interested and also to professional counselors. It is very important that the counselors understand and practice the teachings of the Church regarding chastity. We wouldn't want a client to return to a lifestyle of fornication, adultery, contraception, sterilization or abortion.
The majority of our clients choose to see a priest, including those that are not Catholic. If she needs psychological help then there are direct professional costs. If the client has medical insurance, it is applied; otherwise we offer financial aid. Until now, no one has been turned away because of financial needs.
How important as a phenomenon is abortion within the Hispanic community in the Washington metropolitan area?
We know that the number of Hispanics at the abortion clinics is high, especially in the last 10 years. Some years ago I worked as a volunteer at a Crisis Pregnancy Center in Alexandria. Our objective was to help the women with anything they needed so that they would have their babies. Almost half of the women were Hispanic and most of them were looking for an abortion. We also know that as Hispanics we have the highest birth rate as well as abortions from all ethnic groups in the United States ("Minority Americans and Abortion," American Life League, May 1990)
Planned Parenthood (the largest abortion provider) has targeted the Hispanic population because of the high number of births among minorities. Many poor Hispanic women are pressured to abort by social workers or nurses who believe that the best way to resolve the problem of the poor is to kill their unborn.
Who are the Hispanic women who come to Project Rachel for help?
Abortion affects all types of women, but since we are speaking of Hispanics, we have clients of all ages and social status. Some had the abortion here and others came with the trauma from their countries. Although abortion is illegal in most Hispanic countries, they tell me that those places that do illegal abortions are full. The number of abortions per client also varies.
What role should our Christian society in general, and Catholic in particular, take in relation to women who have had an abortion?
We know that there have been over 35 million abortions since 1973 when abortion was legalized in this country. It is hard to imagine families that have not been affected by abortion. Some of our clients are the grandmothers, aunts and sisters who mourn their loss. We, as Catholics, should be ready to help anyone who is in need of help. It is important to know that the Church, as Fr. Blair Raum reminds us, is a hospital for sinners, and not a hotel for saints. Since we are all sinners, we can accept with open arms post abortive men and women who are seeking to be reconciled with God, with their lost children, with themselves, and with the Church.
The first step to help a person suffering after an abortion is to listen and not condemn. God doesn't have conditions to forgive. Dios no tiene condiciones para perdonar. The number to our office should then be given to them: (703) 276-0373.
What option does the Catholic Church have for those women who have had abortions and are sorry for what they did?
The Catholic Church, through its priests, offers the sacrament of reconciliation. The Church has always been clear on abortion. It is important that the woman accepts the truth: what happened was and remains terribly wrong, but God, our Father, is a merciful God, and offers His forgiveness and peace to all whom are repentant.
Besides the sacrament of reconciliation, the priest guides the woman through a healing process during which she relives the abortion(s) -- each one separately. She usually knows the sex of the baby and names the child, she collects some type of mementos of her child, writes him or her letters and asks for forgiveness. At the end a ceremony can be done in the Church that brings closure to the healing process.
In order for a woman to have an abortion, the baby has to be dehumanized; in other words, they have to believe that there is no baby. The abortion clinics help in this area well. To heal, the woman accepts her role as a mother, bonds with the baby and makes peace with him or her. When she experiences healing, she becomes a defender of life and has much compassion for others.
What does Pope John Paul II say to women who have had an abortion?
Pope John Paul II, in his letter "Evangelium Vitae" (No.99), speaks to post abortive women, initially recognizing the pain that they carry, then giving them hope that all is not lost, to go to confession to receive forgiveness, grace, and peace. Finally he says that their children are "now living in the Lord," something that the woman wonders, and not knowing the answer, fears, before the healing.
What is the role of the parish towards Project Rachel?
The role of the parish is very important because this is the means through which the Hispanic family hears that there is help. Parishes such as St. Anthony in Falls Church have done an outstanding job in this area. Through their bulletin we have received the highest number of calls from Hispanics. We have brochures in Spanish that can be sent to any parish that requests them. It is also important that the priests speak about this issue. When they do, we receive a higher number of clients.
And lastly, how are local priests assisting the efforts of Project Rachel?
We have a good number of English-speaking priests
who have received the training and see clients regularly. In Spanish,
we have two American priests who've learned Spanish to be able to help
our Hispanic community. This year we will be offering the training
once again and hope that more Spanish speaking priests can help us.
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 14,
dated Apr. 8, 1999, on page 12.
.
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.
(It has become apparent that they do not respond to
email therefore you will have more of an impact by writing or telephoning.)
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