Am I a Catholic?

[orphie]

I had an abortion as a teenager. I confessed my sins and was forgiven. I believe that abortion is murder, and a sin. But I also believe that the government has no right to regulate a person’s personal decisions. Am I still a Catholic?

 

[renee1258]

You are still Catholic, but you have the same problem as millions of other Catholics. It isn’t personal if it involves another human being. I believe it should be illegal, but if we want to prevent it we have to take action outside of government. Would the illegality aspect of abortion prevented you as a teen? Who knows, but we all know what could of prevented it was if someone was there to support and guide you when you were in fear.

 

[mercygate]

orphie:

I had an abortion as a teenager. I confessed my sins and was forgiven. I believe that abortion is murder, and a sin. But I also believe that the government has no right to regulate a person’s personal decisions. Am I still a Catholic?

Of course you are Catholic.

But work your way into the role of government by asking yourself whether the government should regulate a person’s behavior concerning theft, slave-owning, religious freedom, child abuse, or murder?

 

[SusanL]

orphie:

I had an abortion as a teenager. I confessed my sins and was forgiven. I believe that abortion is murder, and a sin. But I also believe that the government has no right to regulate a person’s personal decisions. Am I still a Catholic?

My poor friend. (I hope that it’s all right for me to call you “friend.”) You have a lot to work out. Even when we go to confession, it’s still hard, personally, to deal with what we’ve done as young people. The decisions we’ve made, for whatever reasons. I used to say that the teen years and my 20’s were my “stupid” years.

The govt, if it abolishes abortion, will only be protecting the children. Actually, it would be protecting everyone as abortion is the precursor to a lot of other evils. We have to remember that our “personal” decisions affect everyone. Mostly a poor little baby who is totally dependent on the decisions of the mother. From what we eat, to exercise, proper sleep, prenatal visits, to abortion. This isn’t just our body. It’s another human being’s body, too.

Giving birth also gives us a chance to live outside of ourselves. I would not want to deny anyone the chance to be totally unselfish. What a miraculous chance for personal and spiritual growth! Legislating the “right” for abortion only hurts us women. We become users, used, and very self-absorbed.

As far as being considered “Catholic?” I can’t answer that. We’re all on a journey and we all, all fall short.

You really touched me with this thread. Thank you for posting it. Sue

 

[Tom]

orphie:

I had an abortion as a teenager.

My prayers are with you and with the soul of your unborn child. Very often, even though we have gone, made a good confession and received absolution, we harbor a feeling of guilt. This is absolutely normal, but not necessary. I know I carried feelings of guilt for several years, even though I knew I had been forgiven. There was always that little voice, how could He forgive “this sin” that I committed? It took years for me to realize how marvelous His forgiveness is. The reason I told you that is you sound confused, torn. Don’t be. Find peace in His forgiveness.

orphie:

I believe that abortion is murder… I also believe that the government has no right to regulate a person’s personal decisions.

This is what I meant by confused and torn. You do realize it is murder, but if you admit that, you’re admitting you committed it, if you can say well yes I did but it’s not the governments place to tell me it’s wrong… you’re attempting to shift the focus away from the sin. You know the government does indeed have a responsibility to pass laws against murder. It’s that simple. You’ve been forgiven by God. Forgive yourself. Holding on to this, you are questioning His power to forgive your sin, let it go. Find peace in His mercy. To answer your question, yes you are a Catholic, embrace it.

 

[SusanL]

Tom:

My prayers are with you and with the soul of your unborn child. Very often, even though we have gone, made a good confession and received absolution, we harbor a feeling of guilt. This is absolutely normal, but not necessary. I know I carried feelings of guilt for several years, even though I knew I had been forgiven. There was always that little voice, how could He forgive “this sin” that I committed? It took years for me to realize how marvelous His forgiveness is. The reason I told you that is you sound confused, torn. Don’t be. Find peace in His forgiveness.
This is what I meant by confused and torn. You do realize it is murder, but if you admit that, you’re admitting you committed it, if you can say well yes I did but it’s not the governments place to tell me it’s wrong… you’re attempting to shift the focus away from the sin. You know the government does indeed have a responsibility to pass laws against murder. It’s that simple. You’ve been forgiven by God. Forgive yourself. Holding on to this, you are questioning His power to forgive your sin, let it go. Find peace in His mercy. To answer your question, yes you are a Catholic, embrace it.

I agree with Tom. He is right. You are Catholic. Just hang tight, my friend. You’ll get through this.

 

[BLB_Oregon]

orphie:

I also believe that the government has no right to regulate a person’s personal decisions.

I question whether you really believe this. After all, most of the things that will land you in prison are personal decisions, and none are more serious than the decision to have an abortion, true? (That doesn’t even start with the things that can get you sued.)

In any event, you are still Catholic. Hang in there.

PS Do you or have you considered voluteering with Project Rachel? There are many women who would benefit from someone who knows what they are going through in trying to accept forgiveness for what they’ve done and been through.