Shout My Abortion Story! (Just Shut Up About Yours)

[blackforest]

The stigma against all abortion is virtually non existent. Even much of the pro-life movement is okay with incrementalism and loopholes.

This assumption doesn’t account for a discrepancy between legality and morality/ethics. I know a lot of people who are completely pro-life but don’t support overturning Roe v. Wade, preferring to decrease the demand for abortion rather than the supply.

 

[Elf01]

A little compassion wouldn’t hurt

Read the stories and imagine that the child had been born.

 

[Beryllos]

@Elf01,

“Yes, and.”

Of course our thoughts and efforts should be first of all for the children, but at the same time we can and must also consider the spiritual good of the women who have had abortions.

I think you and I both agree that they may be saved through repentance. I look at some of these stories and see that their grief and regret may lead to repentance. Between them and repentance, the way is blocked by a thicket of social expectations, economic pressures, and political propaganda. It’s not going to be easy for them, but there is hope.

If I understand you correctly, you are more concerned about where they are (spiritually) at this moment, that they have not repented yet. If I have got that wrong, please elucidate.

So what’s the way forward for you and me? Can we create a culture that truly supports motherhood? Can we make it easier for pregnant women (and their partners, spouses, families) to love their unborn children and cherish life? And for the survivors of abortion (mostly the women who have had abortions), can we remove some of the obstacles, shine a light, and accompany them on the path to God’s mercy?

 

[Hodos]

This is a great point. Dr. Michael Brown, an evangelical Protestant convert from Judaism recently hosted a show where a number of women who regretted having an abortion, and still suffered from the effects of knowing that they took the life of their baby called in to express their remorse and regret. Some of these were speaking of this after 20-40 years. In addition, there was a man in his late 40s who had pressured his girlfriend during his youth to get an abortion, who called in to express his regret at having done so. It was absolutely heartbreaking to hear these people who still suffer from guilt and remorse even a generation later from having made the decisions that they made. And yet I commend them for having the courage to express this so that others might not make the same mistakes that they did. Prayers go out to all those who have suffered with guilt and remorse. Just know that Christ died for your sin.

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from ALL unrighteousness.”

“And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and HE HIMSELF IS THE PROPTIATION FOR OUR SINS…”

 

[angel12]

Read the stories and imagine that the child had been born.

Read the stories and try to have some compassion.

 

[Aquinas11]

I read a few of the stories and have found two (so far) which express regret

Maybe I should’ve been stronger or I should’ve just done it without looking back. But I had to let you go baby

Her “regret” is that she has “regret” (i.e. “I shouldn’t just done it without looking back”). That’s worse than having “regret”. Beyond sick.

 

[SunshineGrandma]

Thank you for sharing this.

It reminds me of something I saw. There is a movement on YouTube, called the #Walkaway movement, where people post their story of walking away from the Democratic Party and becoming usually Republican.

A particular video featured a woman in her 50’s or 60’s that had an abortion when she was young. She said she was so angry for being lied to by her political party about abortion because later in a college course, she found out that she had aborted an actual baby. Not a clump of cells.

What was even more interesting was what written in the comment section. There were many women who said they had the same story. They were so hurt and angry about being lied to and having to live a life of regret.

All of these stories are adding up to many, many lives filled with regret and pain. Tragic!!

 

[Elf01]

Read the stories and try to have some compassion.

Would you be telling me that if they had been writing about born children that they had had murdered?

“Yes, and.”

Actually I was trying to make the point I did above, I suspect that if these stories were about born children nobody would be encouraging me to be compassionate.

Can we create a culture that truly supports motherhood? Can we make it easier for pregnant women (and their partners, spouses, families) to love their unborn children and cherish life?

I hope so. I 100% think abortion should be illegal but we do also need to deal with why women kill their unborn children.

And for the survivors of abortion (mostly the women who have had abortions), can we remove some of the obstacles, shine a light, and accompany them on the path to God’s mercy?

Given my feelings I don’t think I’m capable of dealing with them directly but I can pray for their repentance. In fact the more I read the more I see that they did know the child was a baby and not a clump of cells. I used to think they didn’t

 

[angel12]

Would you be telling me that if they had been writing about born children that they had had murdered?

Yes, I would. There is something terribly broken in a person who will kill another human being (aside from self-defense, of course). And even moreso in someone who can kill an innocent child.
Perhaps you are confusing compassion with condoning the actions. If you aren’t, I’m very, very sorry for you.

Actually I was trying to make the point I did above, I suspect that if these stories were about born children nobody would be encouraging me to be compassionate.

Your suspicion is wrong.

 

[Elf01]

Yes, I would. There is something terribly broken in a person who will kill another human being (aside from self-defense, of course). And even moreso in someone who can kill an innocent child.

OK then. In fact the initial comment I think you responded to was a lot milder that what was going through my head.

I also think that trying to be compassionate is one of the reasons abortion has become so acceptable.

 

[angel12]

I also think that trying to be compassionate is one of the reasons abortion has become so acceptable.

That doesn’t mean we have to abandon compassion. Anything good can be misused.

 

[Brendan_64]

I also think that trying to be compassionate is one of the reasons abortion has become so acceptable.

Would the same compassionate basis exist for the acceptability of infanticide?

We should of course have compassion for women who find themselves in dire situations, but does this make the killing of a child acceptable, ever?

 

[angel12]

We should of course have compassion for women who find themselves in dire situations, but does this make the killing of a child acceptable?

Did anyone in this thread claim it does?

 

[Elf01]

Would the same compassionate basis exist for the acceptability of infanticide?

When I wrote that I believed that if the stories involved infanticide that the person I was responding to would not be encouraging me to be compassionate.

I still think in many cases those who would encourage me to be compassionate to a woman who has her unborn child murdered would be less inclined to encourage me to be compassionate if we were referring to a born child.

There has to be balance. We should have compassion (especially for those who found themselves pregnant through rape), but we also need to acknowledge that they have committed a grave evil, and based on what I read don’t have the excuse that they didn’t know what they were doing.

 

[Brendan_64]

Did anyone in this thread claim it does?

I never said they did, but that seems to be where we are in society. Anti-abortion is portrayed as lacking in compassion for women, whereas pro-abortion is being positioned as caring.

Regardless of whether or not we need to be more supportive of expectant mothers (I agree with this) in order to reduce demand, legal abortion still means the killing of innocent children is permitted.

 

[Beryllos]

Given my feelings I don’t think I’m capable of dealing with them directly but I can pray for their repentance.

That’s great! Do as you are able and pray for them.

 

[QwertyGirl]

We should of course have compassion for women who find themselves in dire situations, but does this make the killing of a child acceptable, ever?

CompassIon does not equate to acceptance.

 

[Beryllos]

Getting back to the topic, I concur with the original post, that the Shout Your Abortion website is dangerous. It’s not just a website designed to normalize and encourage abortion at the individual level. It is also a propaganda campaign which seeks to move society. By recruiting many voices, they hope to ignite a movement to further reshape our society. Catholics and indeed all people who value life and truth should be wary of such campaigns.

Shout is a good name for what they are doing. In today’s society, in today’s media, ideas are popularized by shouting. Say it often and loud enough, and people start to think it makes sense. Shout down the opposition and people think you are a winner.

How do you counteract that? I don’t think the answer is to shout back, but something’s gotta be done. Any ideas?

 

[blackforest]

I also think that trying to be compassionate is one of the reasons abortion has become so acceptable.

Women are going to have abortions whether we respond with condemnation or compassion. Our Catholic call to charity would impel us to use the latter.

Would the same compassionate basis exist for the acceptability of infanticide?

Compassion and acceptability are two entirely different things.

I have compassion for prisoners who made bad choices in life. That doesn’t mean that I accept their choices as moral or ethical.

Anti-abortion is portrayed as lacking in compassion for women, whereas pro-abortion is being positioned as caring.

I’d argue that that’s all the more reason for pro-lifers to prove them wrong.

Regardless of whether or not we need to be more supportive of expectant mothers (I agree with this) in order to reduce demand, legal abortion still means the killing of innocent children is permitted.

One of the few pro-choice talking points I agree with is this one: Women will have abortions whether they’re legal or illegal. I disagree that it will involve a rusty coat-hanger. Instead it will involve sterile surgical tools and some fancy manipulations of medical codes. In this context, reducing demand becomes a critical priority.

How do you counteract that? I don’t think the answer is to shout back, but something’s gotta be done. Any ideas?

Tough one. It’s easier to “shout” something you’re allegedly proud of than to gather the courage to voice a haunting skeleton in one’s closet. Women in the latter category are less likely to “shout,” aren’t they?

I do think that the hype for this campaign is destined to fizzle, even if the website stays up.

I agree with you that it’s unusual. I’m trying to think of applying this model to other hot-button issues. For example, I’m one of the few naughty Catholics who supports marijuana legalization. But somehow I don’t think a “shout your pot use” campaign would fly well. I live in the Northwest and would go deaf from all of the shouting.