Motherhood
Interrupted
A Catholic Ministry
For Post Abortion Healing
For Post Abortion Healing
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Bridging the Divide
by Jane Brennan
Is it possible to bridge the deep chasm that separates pro-
abortion forces and pro-life people? Is there any way that these
two sides, at war with each other for over 30 years since Roe V.
Wade was handed down, can ever agree upon anything? Can
they ever see eye to eye, compromise when they hold their beliefs
so dearly and defend them with such passion? At first glance, it
seems unlikely if not impossible.
On one side you have people, including radical feminists, who are
only concerned with women’s rights: the right of a woman to
control her own fertility, the right of a woman to control her own
body. They speak about women’s oppression and of past ills
where women were seen as “possessions” or “property.” They
feel the injustices of the past must be changed and the way to do
this is for women to be free, free to make their own decisions
unencumbered by the limits of patriarchy - real or perceived. This
side only sees the “woman.” Their rhetoric is appealing to many.
They scream, yell, rant and rave all in the name of the “woman.”
On the other side you have the pro-life movement. These people,
mainly religious, recognize the sanctity of every human life. They
believe in the right to life of every human being from the moment
of conception. They recognize the humanity of the unborn child.
They protest, march, agitate, and champion the baby in the
womb. They can’t understand how a woman can have her baby
aborted once she knows she is in fact carrying a real human being
in her womb. When hearing about a woman who aborted her
baby they ask, “How could she do that?” Everything they do is
for the baby, with barely a glance at the woman (although I see
signs of this changing). They scream, yell, rant and rave all in the
name of the “unborn baby.”
How can we possibly ever bring these two sides together - one
championing the woman and the other the baby? Who should
“win” in this horrible debate? I personally believe there is
something that can bridge this divide. Actually, it is someone who
has the power to bring these two polar opposites together. That
someone is the “Post-Abortive Woman.” The post-abortive
woman is in a unique position. She can not only speak to both
sides but more importantly, if they are true to their causes, both
will listen to what she has to say.
The post-abortive woman has had an abortion -- maybe even
several. She knows the pain, grief and suffering of having aborted
her unborn child. Even if pro-choice rhetoric sounds good on
paper, she knows from real experience that abortion is not good
for women. When she stands up and tells people -- people who
believe that abortion is a woman’s right -- that what she went
through was tragic and hurtful, they will listen. When she
courageously says, “My abortion did not help me. It did not free
me, or give me more control of my life,” they will listen. When the
post-abortive woman talks about how she thought having an
abortion was the answer to her problems and it would enable her
to go on with her life but she found the opposite to be true, they
will listen. When the post-abortive woman shares her battles with
depression, suicidal thoughts, insomnia, anxiety or alcohol and
drug abuse, they will listen.
But the power of her message does not stop with those who
passionately adhere to pro-choice values. When a post-abortive
woman tells her story, when she relates the circumstances forcing
her to make the choice to have her baby aborted, pro-life people
should listen. When she talks about the boyfriend who coerced
her into aborting her baby, or the lack of support from family,
friends and others causing her to flee to the local women’s clinic
in desperation, they should listen. They should listen and not
condemn the woman for doing what she did. They should offer
mercy and forgiveness. They should help the woman heal from
her terrible wound.
When both sides have heard these stories, stories of pain,
tragedy and grief then maybe the divide will not seem as huge,
the chasm not so wide. When both sides hear and understand
the truth that abortion hurts women then maybe they can work
together to find solutions that will help women and their babies.
When both sides recognize that we as a society have not met the
needs of women, that on all sides we have failed them, we will be
able to focus our energies not on screaming at each other but on
effectively challenging abortion. When people truly understand
that abortion doesn’t free women but in fact enslaves them, they
will want to help women so they will never be faced with that
horrible choice again. With the post-abortive woman, both sides
of this debate have the opportunity to come together to work on
strategies and programs that can help women in practical ways.
When these two opposing sides focus on her as a common goal,
the divide will be bridged, the gap will close, and abortion will end.
by Jane Brennan
Is it possible to bridge the deep chasm that separates pro-
abortion forces and pro-life people? Is there any way that these
two sides, at war with each other for over 30 years since Roe V.
Wade was handed down, can ever agree upon anything? Can
they ever see eye to eye, compromise when they hold their beliefs
so dearly and defend them with such passion? At first glance, it
seems unlikely if not impossible.
On one side you have people, including radical feminists, who are
only concerned with women’s rights: the right of a woman to
control her own fertility, the right of a woman to control her own
body. They speak about women’s oppression and of past ills
where women were seen as “possessions” or “property.” They
feel the injustices of the past must be changed and the way to do
this is for women to be free, free to make their own decisions
unencumbered by the limits of patriarchy - real or perceived. This
side only sees the “woman.” Their rhetoric is appealing to many.
They scream, yell, rant and rave all in the name of the “woman.”
On the other side you have the pro-life movement. These people,
mainly religious, recognize the sanctity of every human life. They
believe in the right to life of every human being from the moment
of conception. They recognize the humanity of the unborn child.
They protest, march, agitate, and champion the baby in the
womb. They can’t understand how a woman can have her baby
aborted once she knows she is in fact carrying a real human being
in her womb. When hearing about a woman who aborted her
baby they ask, “How could she do that?” Everything they do is
for the baby, with barely a glance at the woman (although I see
signs of this changing). They scream, yell, rant and rave all in the
name of the “unborn baby.”
How can we possibly ever bring these two sides together - one
championing the woman and the other the baby? Who should
“win” in this horrible debate? I personally believe there is
something that can bridge this divide. Actually, it is someone who
has the power to bring these two polar opposites together. That
someone is the “Post-Abortive Woman.” The post-abortive
woman is in a unique position. She can not only speak to both
sides but more importantly, if they are true to their causes, both
will listen to what she has to say.
The post-abortive woman has had an abortion -- maybe even
several. She knows the pain, grief and suffering of having aborted
her unborn child. Even if pro-choice rhetoric sounds good on
paper, she knows from real experience that abortion is not good
for women. When she stands up and tells people -- people who
believe that abortion is a woman’s right -- that what she went
through was tragic and hurtful, they will listen. When she
courageously says, “My abortion did not help me. It did not free
me, or give me more control of my life,” they will listen. When the
post-abortive woman talks about how she thought having an
abortion was the answer to her problems and it would enable her
to go on with her life but she found the opposite to be true, they
will listen. When the post-abortive woman shares her battles with
depression, suicidal thoughts, insomnia, anxiety or alcohol and
drug abuse, they will listen.
But the power of her message does not stop with those who
passionately adhere to pro-choice values. When a post-abortive
woman tells her story, when she relates the circumstances forcing
her to make the choice to have her baby aborted, pro-life people
should listen. When she talks about the boyfriend who coerced
her into aborting her baby, or the lack of support from family,
friends and others causing her to flee to the local women’s clinic
in desperation, they should listen. They should listen and not
condemn the woman for doing what she did. They should offer
mercy and forgiveness. They should help the woman heal from
her terrible wound.
When both sides have heard these stories, stories of pain,
tragedy and grief then maybe the divide will not seem as huge,
the chasm not so wide. When both sides hear and understand
the truth that abortion hurts women then maybe they can work
together to find solutions that will help women and their babies.
When both sides recognize that we as a society have not met the
needs of women, that on all sides we have failed them, we will be
able to focus our energies not on screaming at each other but on
effectively challenging abortion. When people truly understand
that abortion doesn’t free women but in fact enslaves them, they
will want to help women so they will never be faced with that
horrible choice again. With the post-abortive woman, both sides
of this debate have the opportunity to come together to work on
strategies and programs that can help women in practical ways.
When these two opposing sides focus on her as a common goal,
the divide will be bridged, the gap will close, and abortion will end.
When both Pro-choice
and Pro-life sides have
heard these stories,
stories of pain,
tragedy and grief then
maybe the divide will
not seem as huge, the
chasm not so wide.
and Pro-life sides have
heard these stories,
stories of pain,
tragedy and grief then
maybe the divide will
not seem as huge, the
chasm not so wide.
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