I WISH to express admiration for the writer of ‘Reliving abortion trauma’ (CL 2/10/05) for showing immense courage in writing of her own abortion experience.
She writes of the pain and guilt that she has suffered.
The great majority of those who oppose abortion see women who have had abortions as victims, just as their aborted babies are victims.
We must strive to provide and demonstrate all alternatives to abortion and give loving support.
I recommend to her the book by Melinda Tankard Reist entitled Giving Sorrow Words, which is filled with the testimonies of women who have also had abortions.
I also recommend the work and writings of Anne Lastman of Victims of Abortion, whose work involves counselling women who have had abortions. She began this work as therapy for her own post-abortion grief.
To assuage her pain and guilt, I urge the writer to take note of John Paul II’s writing: ‘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’ (The Gospel of Life).
DR TERRENCE KENT
President
Medical Guild of St Luke
Corinda, Qld
