Motherhood
Interrupted
A Catholic Ministry
For Post Abortion Healing
For Post Abortion Healing
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| © Copyright 2010, Motherhood Interrupted. All rights reserved. |
During my junior year in college, after much promiscuity, drinking
and drug use, the inevitable happened. I was pregnant. My first
reaction was one of total fear. What was I to do? Everyone
around me said “get an abortion. “ In fact, abortion was well
publicized around campus, socially acceptable and easily obtained.
My boyfriend was not concerned at all about “my problem”. So, I
decided abortion was my only choice.
When I arrived at the clinic, I had to see a staff counselor before
anything else. She was very nice and seemed genuinely concerned
about me. “The whole procedure will be very easy and then you
can just go on with your life.” She said. This was the first lie that
was told to me. She continued, telling me that I wasn't carrying a
baby, just a “clump of cells” - a second lie,
which I didn’t realize until many years later.
The procedure was extremely painful and I almost passed out. As
for “getting on with my life” that consisted of more drug use,
promiscuity, drinking and now a new problem: depression. Life
just seemed to be more difficult. I couldn’t see a way out.
Around this time, I began to get involved with the feminist
movement. I was drawn to their message of claiming that women
should have full control over their bodies. As a result of early
childhood sexual abuse, I never felt I had control over anything,
least of all my body. Feminism gave me a voice and for the first
time in my life, I felt empowered and confident. Also, the message
these women conveyed about abortion being a women’s right
justified my decision to fix my earlier “problem”. I became a very
militant, anti-catholic feminist. Any chance I got to rant, rave and
champion feminist positions, I took it! I even went so far with my
new found “cause” as to have a second abortion. After all, I
thought, it’s my right.
I became a member of NOW, NARAL and even volunteered at
Planned Parenthood helping young girls pro-cure abortions and
birth control.
It wasn’t until many years later when my husband wanted a
divorce as a result of all my feminist leanings which were contrary
to keeping our marriage intact that I began to question the belief
system I had bought into. I began to do some research into
these groups and found a lot of hypocrisy.
After doing my research, I decided to go to a Catholic church, a
place that was very contrary to feminist ideals. After all, religion
was invented just to keep women down, I had believed.
As I walked through the doors of the church, a feeling
of peace settled over me. A peace, I had not known until this
point; a peace that could not be found in drugs, drinking,
promiscuity or feminism. I finally found what my heart had been
aching for all along: Jesus Christ.
Through the compassion and love of Jesus Christ, I realized that
the children I had aborted were indeed life, and not just a “clump
of cells”. The anger that I feel to-wards that counselor’s deception
is often overwhelming.
As painful as it is, I tell my story to help other women have the
courage to speak out. After hearing my story hopefully other
post-abortive women suffering in silence will come forward with
their own stories. Then the grim reality of how abortion shatters
lives will be heard, and soon abortion will not be
thought of as a clinical procedure or a fundamental right but the
tragedy it is.
____________________________________________________
Jane Brennan, MS, a former member of NOW and Planned
Parenthood volunteer, has devoted her private counseling
practice, Hope for the Journey, to offer post-abortive women a
safe place to reconcile unresolved grief and loss. In 2005 Brennan
received the Pro-Vitae (For Life) award from the Archdiocese of
Denver, an award given to those who have shown tremendous
support for pro-life issues. Brennan has also published several
pieces regarding abortion’s aftermath on various websites.
Jane is the Silent No More Awareness Campaign Regional
Coordinator and she volunteers with the Alternatives Pregnancy
Center. She resides in Colorado with her husband Kyle and four
daughters. Contact Jane: jane@motherhoodinterrupted.com
and drug use, the inevitable happened. I was pregnant. My first
reaction was one of total fear. What was I to do? Everyone
around me said “get an abortion. “ In fact, abortion was well
publicized around campus, socially acceptable and easily obtained.
My boyfriend was not concerned at all about “my problem”. So, I
decided abortion was my only choice.
When I arrived at the clinic, I had to see a staff counselor before
anything else. She was very nice and seemed genuinely concerned
about me. “The whole procedure will be very easy and then you
can just go on with your life.” She said. This was the first lie that
was told to me. She continued, telling me that I wasn't carrying a
baby, just a “clump of cells” - a second lie,
which I didn’t realize until many years later.
The procedure was extremely painful and I almost passed out. As
for “getting on with my life” that consisted of more drug use,
promiscuity, drinking and now a new problem: depression. Life
just seemed to be more difficult. I couldn’t see a way out.
Around this time, I began to get involved with the feminist
movement. I was drawn to their message of claiming that women
should have full control over their bodies. As a result of early
childhood sexual abuse, I never felt I had control over anything,
least of all my body. Feminism gave me a voice and for the first
time in my life, I felt empowered and confident. Also, the message
these women conveyed about abortion being a women’s right
justified my decision to fix my earlier “problem”. I became a very
militant, anti-catholic feminist. Any chance I got to rant, rave and
champion feminist positions, I took it! I even went so far with my
new found “cause” as to have a second abortion. After all, I
thought, it’s my right.
I became a member of NOW, NARAL and even volunteered at
Planned Parenthood helping young girls pro-cure abortions and
birth control.
It wasn’t until many years later when my husband wanted a
divorce as a result of all my feminist leanings which were contrary
to keeping our marriage intact that I began to question the belief
system I had bought into. I began to do some research into
these groups and found a lot of hypocrisy.
After doing my research, I decided to go to a Catholic church, a
place that was very contrary to feminist ideals. After all, religion
was invented just to keep women down, I had believed.
As I walked through the doors of the church, a feeling
of peace settled over me. A peace, I had not known until this
point; a peace that could not be found in drugs, drinking,
promiscuity or feminism. I finally found what my heart had been
aching for all along: Jesus Christ.
Through the compassion and love of Jesus Christ, I realized that
the children I had aborted were indeed life, and not just a “clump
of cells”. The anger that I feel to-wards that counselor’s deception
is often overwhelming.
As painful as it is, I tell my story to help other women have the
courage to speak out. After hearing my story hopefully other
post-abortive women suffering in silence will come forward with
their own stories. Then the grim reality of how abortion shatters
lives will be heard, and soon abortion will not be
thought of as a clinical procedure or a fundamental right but the
tragedy it is.
____________________________________________________
Jane Brennan, MS, a former member of NOW and Planned
Parenthood volunteer, has devoted her private counseling
practice, Hope for the Journey, to offer post-abortive women a
safe place to reconcile unresolved grief and loss. In 2005 Brennan
received the Pro-Vitae (For Life) award from the Archdiocese of
Denver, an award given to those who have shown tremendous
support for pro-life issues. Brennan has also published several
pieces regarding abortion’s aftermath on various websites.
Jane is the Silent No More Awareness Campaign Regional
Coordinator and she volunteers with the Alternatives Pregnancy
Center. She resides in Colorado with her husband Kyle and four
daughters. Contact Jane: jane@motherhoodinterrupted.com
"I share my story
because I want to help
end the secret shame of
women suffering from
post-abortion trauma."
Jane
Email Jane Brennan
because I want to help
end the secret shame of
women suffering from
post-abortion trauma."
Jane
Email Jane Brennan
