Academy Award winning actress Ellen Burstyn Says Abortion was the Worst Thing in Her Life

[gmarie21]

Thank you for saying that, Tom.

Quite honestly, the man who got Ellen Burstyn pregnant should be flogged for not being in the picture. When are men going to be held accountable for their part?

There was only one Virgin Birth, after all.

Agree to a point. There are some women who don’t even tell the men that they are/were pregnant before seeking an abortion. There are men who plead and beg their girlfriends/exs to not seek an abortion. There are MANY men who suffer from the effects of abortion. John Morales (I don’t know which Catholic organization and/or publication he’s with now) who use to be a Relevant Radio personality is a man who suffers from the effects of the abortion his ex-girlfriend had despite his begging her not to. Many men feel that their hands are tied.

When it comes to abortion, the only blanket statement that can be made is that it is wrong and that it kills (is murder). To assume that everyone who seeks an abortion is this way or that way would be wrong.

 

[Joe_Kelley]

Maybe it would be better stated -

I survived an abortion;

But my baby didn’t.

 

[verdigirl]

Agree to a point. There are some women who don’t even tell the men that they are/were pregnant before seeking an abortion. There are men who plead and beg their girlfriends/exs to not seek an abortion. There are MANY men who suffer from the effects of abortion. John Morales (I don’t know which Catholic organization and/or publication he’s with now) who use to be a Relevant Radio personality is a man who suffers from the effects of the abortion his ex-girlfriend had despite his begging her not to. Many men feel that their hands are tied.

When it comes to abortion, the only blanket statement that can be made is that it is wrong and that it kills (is murder). To assume that everyone who seeks an abortion is this way or that way would be wrong.

I do agree with you. I just want to see the Church really drive home that not only is premarital sex wrong, but that a reason why it’s wrong is because men don’t have to be faced with the decision to abort after abandonment.

 

[gmarie21]

I do agree with you. I just want to see the Church really drive home that not only is premarital sex wrong, but that a reason why it’s wrong is because men don’t have to be faced with the decision to abort after abandonment.

The Church should never sway into giving reasons on why premarital sex and abortion are wrong based on anything besides their current teachings. The current teachings are complete and accurate. The Church (and God) can’t make anyone take actions that follow the TRUTH (a.k.a. stop anyone from sinning).

If finger pointing is going to begin, what about the parents of the girls who bring them to have abortions? I’ve seen many mothers bring their daughters. Heck, I had a friend who’s mother did that (her mother had had an abortion and told my friend that it was no big deal). My friend was fighting back her tears when she was telling me about it. She was furious with her mother and what her mother made her go through.

When it comes to unplanned pregnancies that end in abortion, sometimes its the support of the baby’s father that was needed, sometimes its the support of the baby’s grandparents that was needed, sometimes its the support of the culture that was needed, and sometimes its the support of the otherwise judgemental people that was needed. Heck, I’m a single mom and let me tell you, even in parish events not everyone is kind and non-judgemental about my being a single parent. I’m secure in my faith to not let it get to me. Many others aren’t as secure. It truly is a delicate line to walk when being pro-life.

 

[verdigirl]

The Church should never sway into giving reasons on why premarital sex and abortion are wrong based on anything besides their current teachings. The current teachings are complete and accurate. The Church (and God) can’t make anyone take actions that follow the TRUTH (a.k.a. stop anyone from sinning).

What’s interesting is that Jesus even resorted to parables to help people understand truth. Why should the Church be any different?

If finger pointing is going to begin, what about the parents of the girls who bring them to have abortions? I’ve seen many mothers bring their daughters. Heck, I had a friend who’s mother did that (her mother had had an abortion and told my friend that it was no big deal). My friend was fighting back her tears when she was telling me about it. She was furious with her mother and what her mother made her go through.

Your friend’s situation really sucks. I know of “Catholic” parents who do this. But again, we need to take the primary focus of the problem off the girls/women. A parent who is doing this is blaming the daughter exclusively.

When it comes to unplanned pregnancies that end in abortion, sometimes its the support of the baby’s father that was needed, sometimes its the support of the baby’s grandparents that was needed, sometimes its the support of the culture that was needed, and sometimes its the support of the otherwise judgemental people that was needed.

I appreciate this comment, and you are right. Across the board, however, we should not be afraid to help a young woman gain dignity enough to say no, and to help a young man recognize her dignity and respect it. As a society, we’re too permissive with sexuality in the first place.

Heck, I’m a single mom and let me tell you, even in parish events not everyone is kind and non-judgemental about my being a single parent. I’m secure in my faith to not let it get to me. Many others aren’t as secure. It truly is a delicate line to walk when being pro-life.

I know what you mean, and as a Catholic woman, I am proud of you. Thank you for sharing with me.

 

[duskyjewel]

I really have no, and I mean NO sympathy for men on this topic. If you are having sex out of wedlock, you obviously don’t believe Church teachings anyway. So go ahead and go the rest of the way and put on the stupid condom! If you don’t want to face this issue, then don’t get her pregnant. In my experience, before I became a serious Catholic, outside of bad manufacturing, condom failure would only happen to complete idiots. They just are not that hard to use. Your other option is just to keep it in your pants in the first place! If you don’t want to have responsibility for what your little swimmers do, then don’t let them out. Once you have let them out, please don’t whine about child support. It’s the ABSOLUTE LEAST you can do for the human soul and person you helped to create!

Women have a special responsibility to our children. We just do. Don’t like it? Take it up with the Designer! We are the ones who have the capacity for new life to be created in our bodies, to carry it and nurture it until it can survive in the outside world. Then our bodies continue that miracle and obligation by creating the perfect food for that baby after birth. We have a special role, with it comes special obligation, and that is just the way it is. A woman making the choice to have an abortion is different from anyone else’s view on it or influence in the process. She must walk in the door of that clinic, lay down on a table, and go through with the process. If women want the power to make that decision, then they have to take the responsibility that comes with it. Some people do not regard it as a big deal. That is just the truth, and I’m sorry that some can’t believe it. For some, they don’t realize what a big deal it is until it is too late. For some, they are coerced and know what they are doing is wrong, and so end up double destroyed. They have participated in killing their child, AND their trust has been completely betrayed.

Ellen Burstyn seems to be saying that she made the choice freely, that she didn’t realize how serious it was at the time, but that she still takes the responsibility for it. She knows she SHOULD have known that it was a big deal at the time, but was probably lying to herself. It takes great character to admit these things, and I applaud her for it. Saying negative things about abortion is not popular, and it takes courage.

 

[verdigirl]

Ellen Burstyn seems to be saying that she made the choice freely, that she didn’t realize how serious it was at the time, but that she still takes the responsibility for it. She knows she SHOULD have known that it was a big deal at the time, but was probably lying to herself. It takes great character to admit these things, and I applaud her for it. Saying negative things about abortion is not popular, and it takes courage.

Amen. You go, girl!

 

[Angela_Tate]

Thanks, verdigirl and dustyjewel, for bringing this thread back on-topic.

*** * * * W A R N I N G * * * ***

Let’s please focus on Ellen Burstyn in this thread: what she revealed in that interview, what reprecussions she may face (if any), what we think about her making such a public confession.

The side discussion about men’s roles in abortions belongs in the Moral Theology forum, not here.

Thank you.

 

[Roslyn]

God bless her for having the courage to express such a “countercultural” truth. Our country needs to hear more people who are not seen as fitting into the cliche categories of “religious” and/or “conservative” speaking out about what abortion really does to women (not to mention to babies!).

Well said.

 

[Roslyn]

Ms. magazine launches “I had an abortion” campaign
http://feministing.com/abortionshirt.jpg

Sure looks like they’ve considered the gravity and seriousness of abortion with this fabulous ad campaign!

Wow, how incredibly tacky and offensive.

 

[Roslyn]

From the interview:

*After a pause during which the interviewer prompted with her single motherhood, struggles with her son and more, Burstyn said, “You know, I guess, I hate to talk about this on the air, but having an abortion.”

Burstyn continued, “You know that was really an extremely painful experience.”

“Did you feel you didn’t have a choice?” asked the interviewer. “At the time I was just young and dumb, I didn’t really want to have a baby then,” she replied.

“It was the wrong thing to do and I really didn’t understand that till later,” said the actress.

“That was very very painful, that was probably the worst.”

Concluding the matter she said, “I try not to allow regret to settle over me like a shroud, because I think its an unhealthy way to live.”*

She sounds as if she has fully faced her regret for this and moved on. She admits it was a wrong thing to do. God Bless her.

 

[YinYangMom]

I’m more curious as to what, if any, the reaction has been toward Ellen for opening admitting she regrets the abortion and knows it was wrong. Somehow I expected NOW or some other feminist organizations to jump all over her pronouncement.

Has anyone noticed anything like that? Can a star such as Burstyn come out with such a ‘non-poular’ statement like that and not get attacked by the pro-choice movement?

 

[TGBTG]

This was definitely a courageous statement for her to make, and she is to be applauded. However (and I am hoping my memory is inaccurate here!) my recollection is that she was listed with several well-known Hollywood personalities who were pro-choice, or at a Planned Parenthood dinner, or SOMETHING along those lines, so this would be QUITE a significant admission by her if my memory were right. Can anyone help me out here?
Thank you.

 

[mmm1]

I agree with Rosalinda & Lux Dei. This WAS a very countercultural statement. The secular media & the “pro-choice” movement frequently deny the existence of any type of postabortion syndrome. They say it is something the “anti-choice” crowd invented. Planned Parenthood describes abortion as “safe, simple & common”…

How very courageous of Ellen Burstyn!

 

[lizaanne]

Ms. magazine launches “I had an abortion” campaign
http://feministing.com/abortionshirt.jpg

Sure looks like they’ve considered the gravity and seriousness of abortion with this fabulous ad campaign!

Are you KIDDING? Did you actually READ the page for this campaign? It’s pro-choice!!! They are trying to say that if more women would admit to having abortions more women would feel comfortable getting them!!

PLEASE go back to the site and read the campaign more fully - this is NOT a pro-life statement by Ms Magazine at all. I was shocked to think that they would do such a thing in the first place, and I was right. They are still totally pro-choice.

From the Ms Magazine Site:

We recognize that, still, not every woman will be able to sign today—33 years after Roe—even though abortion is a very common, necessary and important procedure for millions of women in the U.S. But if a multitude of women would step forward publicly—and more and more would continue to join them—we would change the public debate.
We know that women who have had abortions have spoken out many times during the last 33 years … and millions of women and men have marched in countless rallies and demonstrations.
It is time to speak out again– in even larger numbers —and to make politicians face their neighbors, influential movers and shakers, and yes, their family members. We cannot, must not—for U.S. women and the women of the world—lose the right to safe, legal, and accessible abortion or access to birth control.

~Liza