Post Abortion Syndrome
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your Souls.” Matthew 11:28,29
“Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways, we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. One the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.” 2 Corinthians 4:1,2
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.” 2 Corinthians 1:3,4
“Let us have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.” Luke 15:23b-24a
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.” 2 Corinthians 5:17,18
Christians rely on God’s revealed word, the Bible, for determining truth, and we look to it as our only infallible guide for faith and action. It is our authority for understanding the distinction between good and evil and for determining what is moral and immoral.
Anglicans for Life, believes the Church has an opportunity and an obligation to reach out to the women and men suffering the pain of abortion. The Church can be a refuge and a place of healing for all—the women and their families—touched by abortion’s devastation.
Anglicans for Life calls on the Anglican/Episcopal Church to take positions that are consistent with Scripture and to resolve to minister to those who are touched by abortion.
Abortion is a sin. Just as with any other sin, people suffer the consequences of the abortion decision. A woman who has had an abortion can be wounded emotionally, just as she can be scarred physically. This psychological damage is known as Post Abortion Syndrome. Studies—including documentation by the Planned Parenthood research affiliate, the Alan Guttmacher Institute—have demonstrated that as many as 91 percent of all women who have had an abortion experience post-procedural trauma. That trauma can manifest itself in psychological numbness, which makes it difficult for a woman to have healthy relationships with loved ones, and self-grading behaviors, such as alcohol and drug abuse and sexual promiscuity.
Healing through Jesus Christ is available to all that have sinned. The nonchristian woman and her family may not know of the healing offered through Jesus Christ, and even Christian women and men involved with abortion may feel isolated because they feel their sin is too great to bring before God. Yet, Scripture repeatedly tells us that no sin is too great to bring before the Lord. And we are assured that we will not only be forgiven when we acknowledge and confess our sins, but also comforted.
The Church can share the good news of God’s love for his sinning children. Christians are called to minister to those suffering any pain, including that of abortion. Because shame so often accompanies abortion, the Church may attempt to ignore or cover it up. Yet it is only by confronting the pain and offering opportunities for healing that the men and women touched by abortion will be made whole and knows the full glory of God.
THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH
The Episcopal Church has not officially acknowledged the pain known as Post Abortion Syndrome. Anglicans for Life encourages the Church to recognize Post Abortion Syndrome and include instruction in seminaries and other Christian education facilities on its symptoms as well as ways to lead women and men experiencing its trauma to acknowledge their sin and accept God’s forgiveness.
Anglicans for Life
promotes the Biblical view of the sanctity of human life
at every stage of biological development
and seeks to influence our Church and culture
to embrace this Biblical attitude
morally, legally and in practice.
Anglicans for Life and its chapters reach out
to protect life and offer compassion
in communities across the nation.
