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Alternatives and Choices |
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Alternatives and Choices |
| This page was created to offer information
and resources for women who are facing extremely
difficult choices. Yes, I am very much "pro-life",
but as a single mother who had to face "choice"
herself, I could never judge anyone for whatever they
decided to do. It's scary, feeling alone, feeling like
everything is falling apart! Oh, I know that
feeling far too well! My hope and my prayer is simply that some will find this information helpful. If ever you need anything, just let me know. I will do what I can, and certainly, I will pray for you, no matter what. If, for any reason at all, you want to email me - please feel free! If I can do anything to help I will! Don't hesitate to contact me, if you need help, or just someone to talk to! |
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Lisa & Nathaniel's Photo Album Nathaniel just turned ten. He is truly my "gift from God". (that's what Nathaniel means) Legally, I could have aborted him. Legally, I had the choice. As a single woman in a "crisis pregnancy", everyone would have understood if I had made that choice. I'm not saying I'm better than anyone else, because I made the "right choice". I really think I was blessed, because I was really scared. Logically, I should have had an abortion, and made my "problem" go away. But I didn't, and I really do think it was the grace of God. I didn't know what I was going to do, alone, with a baby to take care of. I didn't know where the money was going to come from. I had no idea how it would all work out. I still don't, most days. All I'm saying is, I've been there, if you need someone to talk to, please, don't hesitate to get ahold of me. I won't preach, I won't judge. I'm here to listen, and to help. If I can do anything at all, let me know. It's a scary place to be. You don't have to be there alone. Write me. (I don't bite!) |
Pope John Paul's message to women who have had an abortion: excerpted from - Evangelium Vitae, 25 March, 1995 I would now like to say a special word to women who have had an abortion. The Church is aware of the many factors which may have influenced your decision, and she does not doubt that in many cases it was a painful and even shattering decision. The wound in your heart may not yet have healed. Certainly what happened was and remains terribly wrong. But do not give in to discouragement and do not lose hope. Try rather to understand what happened and face it honestly. If you have not already done so, give yourselves over with humility and trust to repentance. The Father of mercies is ready to give you his forgiveness and his peace in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. You will come to understand that nothing is definitively lost and you will also be able to ask forgiveness from your child, who is now living in the Lord. With the friendly and expert help and advice of other people, and as a result of your own painful experience, you can be among the most eloquent defenders of everyone's right to life. Through your commitment to life, whether by accepting the birth of other children or by welcoming and caring for those most in need of someone to be close to them, you will become promoters of a new way of looking at human life. Evangelium
Vitae, complete text U.S. Catholic Bishops Political Responsibility Statement. Human life is a gift from God which all of us are called to protect, nurture, and sustain. The right to life, the most basic of all human rights, must be protected by law. Abortion has become the fundamental human rights issue of our day because it is the deliberate destruction of a human being before birth. The United States, avowedly a defender of the weak, has one of the highest legal abortion rates and the most extreme abortion policy of any industrialized Western nation in the world. There are now more than 1.5 million abortions every year in the United States, over 4,400 a day, with well over 95 percent performed for economic or social reasons. Thousands of unborn children are killed each year in the final months of pregnancy. We support policies and laws that encourage childbirth over abortion, and urge government and the private sector to provide programs that assist pregnant women and their children, especially those who are poor. We support efforts to prohibit domestic and foreign abortion funding, as well as efforts to protect states from having to fund abortions contrary to their own laws. We reject the 1973 Supreme Court abortion decisions which deny legal protection to unborn children, and we support efforts to prohibit or restrict abortion legislatively and to provide constitutional protection for unborn human life. Laws and policies on medical research, health care, and related issues must respect and protect human life from the moment of conception. Reproduced from the 1995 (Documentation on the Right to Life and Abortion, 1974, 1976, 1981; Pastoral Plan for Pro-Life Activities: A Reaffirmation, 1985; Resolution on Abortion, 1989, 1995; Faithful for Life: A Moral Reflection, 1995.) |
Other Information & Resources |
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| Baby Talk - an article from Envoy Magazine - Common-sense responses to the arguments some people give for killing unborn children. | Silent Abortions - Discussion of the most common forms of birth control used today, and their effects as abortificants. |
| The Bible's Teaching Against Abortion - A scriptural look at some of the Biblical reasons why abortion is something a Christian should consider very, very carefully | The National Office of Post Abortion Reconciliation and Healing - Headquarters for Project Rachel - a support and outreach ministry for women and families suffering in the aftermath of abortion |
| Humanae Vitae - The Encyclical letter of His Holiness Pope Paul VI, on the Regulation of Birth. | Humanae Vitae House - articles and essays by Fr. James Morrow discussing abortion and euthanasia |
| Population Research Institute | Human Life International |
| The Ultimate Pro-Life Resource List - Adoption Info | Americans United for Life |
| National Coalition for Life and Peace | National Right to Life Organization |
| Culture of Life Foundation | One More Soul (Catholic pro-child apostolate) |
For a Christian
fellowship and discussion mailing list, check out the Serendipity Mailing List and discuss these, and many more issues of
the Church, and Christian life in general. If you have had an abortion, and you are suffering in the aftermath of the experience, you may want to consider joining our Project Rachel Mailing List. This mailing list is completely confidential, and there are no archives. Members must be approved by the Moderator before joining.