Background information on abortion and abortion injury
On average, abortions are performed more than 3,000 times a day in the United States. Since 1973, more than 50 million children have been destroyed by abortion. While some of their mothers report relatively little trauma following abortion, none come away truly unscathed.
For many, the experience is devastating, causing severe and long lasting emotional, psychological, and spiritual trauma. Every abortion loss can also have an impact; on the child’s father, grandparents, and siblings, as well as the mother’s friends and even her future spouse and children.
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Church teaching
“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.” – John Paul II – Evangelium Vitae (The Gospel of Life)
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On the Road to Hope and Healing
There are many avenues for Hope and Healing, retreats such as Entering Canaan offers paths for reconciliation and healing. Through the ministry of people involved and are trained in this ministry many are helped in their pain and sorrow. Project Rachel was developed s a resource by the Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations by the committee on Pro-Life Activities of U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Our Respect Life Office is here to assist anyone in need — 1(888) 456-4673 a Confidential Help Line — will refer those in need to priests, counselors and retreats. You have but to reach out and your pain will be erased.
This Diocese along with others in every state will help you to understand the love and forgiveness of God.
As prayed in Psalms 32:3-7:
“When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away
Through my groaning all day long.
For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me;
My vitality was drained away as with the fever heat of summer. Selah.
I acknowledged my sin to You,
And my iniquity I did not hide;
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD”;
And You forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah.
Therefore, let everyone who is godly pray to You in a time when You may be found;
Surely in a flood of great waters they will not reach him.”
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Project Rachel Network
“The Project Rachel ministry offers a way out of the darkness and into the light, and is has been deeply rewarding for me to be part of this work because priests are the doctors of the soul; I would encourage my brother priests to utilize the gifts we have received through our ordination to bring much needed healing to those who have been harmed by abortion. It is through a strong network of dedicated priests and compassionate counselors that Hope and healing can come about.” – Fr. John Stack, Archdiocese of Washington D.C.
The above quote is only one of many the following Diocese have active project Rachel Programs:
• Archdiocese of St. Louis, Missouri
• Archdiocese of Little Rock, Arkansas
• Archdiocese of Alexandria, Louisiana
• Archdiocese of Baton Rouge, Louisiana
• Archdiocese of Lafayette, Louisiana
• Archdiocese of Diocese Biloxi /Gulfport, Mississippi
• And many more, to find a Project Rachel in a Diocese near you visit: www. hopeafterabortion.com
The Diocese of Rockville Centre has had training sessions for all interested in assisting in this work. We would like to reach out to all people of the diocese to help in disseminating this information to those in need.
Sister Elizabeth Geraghty, CSJ, entered the Sisters of St. Joseph in 1951; she has been involved in education from elementary school to high school. She served as principal of St. Clare Elementary School and thought chemistry in Holy Family High School, was Assistant Principal and Dean of Students in St. Anthony High School. Sister Elizabeth Geraghty, CSJ retired in June 2011 and now volunteers in the Diocese of Rockville Centre, Respect Life Office as coordinator of Project Rachel and in the Heart Assisted Living Facility.