An Unexpected Correlation: The Legacy of Abortion

Breakpoint with Chuck Colson ^ | 1/22/2008 | Mark Earley

[Mr. Silverback]

Note: This commentary was delivered by PFM President Mark Earley.

A woman—let’s call her Caroline—was 92 years old. She was dying, in agony, but Caroline’s pain was not physical. It was emotional. Caroline, you see, had been carrying a secret for more than 50 years: As a young woman, she had undergone two abortions, suffered terrible guilt all her life—and now, on her death-bed, afraid that God could not forgive her.

As her palliative-care nurse, Jean Echlin, writes, “At the end of her life she shared with me her agony over her lost babies . . . she felt that she had committed murder.”

Caroline is not alone, as Echlin writes in Perspectives 2007, a publication of the De Veber Institute for Bioethics and Social Research. Echlin also tells the story of a woman named Lydia, who was dying of cancer. Even with the use of a pain pump, which gave her steady doses of morphine, Lydia’s pain did not abate.

“I asked her if her faith or prayer could be of any comfort,” Echlin writes. “Lydia remained silent except for her moaning.” But the next day she confided the truth. “I can’t pray—God won’t listen,” Lydia said. “I killed a precious baby when I was 18 . . .” Lydia’s abortion had taken place more than 40 years ago—and she was still grieving over it.

Caroline and Lydia are but two examples of what the Institute calls an “unexpected correlation” between abortion and pain-relief care. Dying women experience unresolved guilt and psychological pain related to their abortion—guilt and pain that stand in the way of a peaceful death. Their guilt is so great, Echlin says, that it impedes the effectiveness of their pain medication. Only when the abortion issue is resolved—when someone listens to them and assures them of God’s forgiveness—is the pain medication made effective, and the women able to die peacefully.

This is dramatic testimony that abortion is not, as the abortion lobby claims, something women will “get over” in a week or two. It is evidence that we know inherently that we are made in the image of the God who gives life. When we do violence to that image—when we destroy life instead of nurturing it—it has a profound effect on our emotions, our psyche, and our souls.

Today, as we mourn the 35th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, and the tens of millions of abortions that have resulted from this dreadful decision, we must recognize that there are likely many women among us who are silently suffering abortion grief decades after their babies’ lives were snuffed out. As the De Veber Institute notes, these women need our compassion, and their trauma should be recognized and acknowledged by their care providers.

As we comfort the dying, we must also help the living. We must make sure young women know the truth: that abortion takes a human life; that there are alternatives to abortion; and that there are people who will help them through a difficult, unplanned pregnancy.

And they must be told that the notion that they will simply “get over” an abortion is a bold-faced lie. The truth is that if they walk into that abortion clinic, they may still be feeling the agony over taking their baby’s life—even on their deathbed a half century later.

[Mr. Silverback]

Let us not forget, we have ministry to do for those beyond the unborn.

There are links to further information at the source document.

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[Sherman Logan]

A woman—let’s call her Caroline—was 92 years old. She was dying, in agony, but Caroline’s pain was not physical. It was emotional. Caroline, you see, had been carrying a secret for more than 50 years

Wouldn't that be more like 60 or 70 years?

[bboop]

My grandmother died 20 years ago, in her late 80’s. She confessed to me that she had had an abortion in between her two kids (my mom and her brother). My g’pa was gone to Mexico as a reporter for the Mexican Revolution (1920s), she thot he might not return. They put some sort of electrical gadget over her belly.

She was tormented by it all these years.

[Tax-chick]

In the first place, 60 and 70 are also “more than 50.” She might have had the abortions in her late 30’s or her 40’s.

[Mr. Silverback]

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[11th Commandment]

I will defer to FREEPERs in the Medical profession, but it seems to me I read or heard about this condition before. It wasn’t with abortion, but any individual carrying a “guilty heart” to the death bed: adultery, murder or even the mourning of a spouse.

[Mr. Silverback]

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[Mr. Silverback]

Wouldn't that be more like 60 or 70 years?

No, I don't see why it would be improbable for a 42 year old woman to have an abortion. Think of all the difficulties that could come with raising a child at that age that might convince you it was a good idea.

[Red6]

Caroline unfortunately is a minority. I truly believe that most of these women dread the inconvenience and annoyance of an abortion but frankly see little wrong with it.

You’re dealing with savages, heathens, humans that are best described as nihilist and hedonistic for the most part. It’s a byproduct of poor education, a lack of respect for self and others, a void created by a secularist society where people live in anonymity and without consequence of poor behavior. Abortion is a byproduct of social decay and liberalization to the point where there are no rules except those that make the “mob” feel good (Pure hedonism). Whether it’s most homosexuals or a feminist, essentially their life revolves around their sex organs, and for the feminist abortion means sexual reproductive freedom as well as a higher degree of independence socially and economically. Everything else is superfluous, since after all, you’re dealing with a hedonist.

[TigersEye]

Abortion is not about saving women’s lives!

Studies Find Abortions Have Long-Term Effects

Study: Previous Abortions Linked With Pre-Term Birth and Cerebral Palsy

45,951,133

Total Abortions since 1973

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Why the drop after 1960? (in deaths of women from illegal abortions)

The reasons were new and better antibiotics, better surgery and the establishment of intensive care units in hospitals. This was in the face of a rising population. Between 1967 and 1970 sixteen states legalized abortion. In most it was limited, only for rape, incest and severe fetal handicap (life of mother was legal in all states). There were two big exceptions — California in 1967, and New York in 1970 allowed abortion on demand. Now look at the chart carefully.

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Abortion Statistics - Decision to Have an Abortion (U.S.)

· 25.5% of women deciding to have an abortion want to postpone childbearing

· 21.3% of women cannot afford a baby

· 14.1% of women have a relationship issue or their partner does not want a child

· 12.2% of women are too young (their parents or others object to the pregnancy)

· 10.8% of women feel a child will disrupt their education or career

· 7.9% of women want no (more) children

· 3.3% of women have an abortion due to a risk to fetal health

2.8% of women have an abortion due to a risk to maternal health

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So how many women’s lives have been saved by abortion?

Only about 3% of abortions since 1972 were reported to be “due to a risk to maternal health.” A reasonable person would recognize that not all of those cases represent a lethal risk. But let’s say they did. That means that nearly 45 million fetuses were butchered to save the lives of about 1.3 million women. Or put another way; 35 babies are killed to save each woman.

Abortion was legal in all 50 states prior to Roe v. Wade in cases of danger to the life of the woman.

Roe v Wade: FULL Text (The Decision that wiped out an entire Generation 33 years ago today)

[Antoninus]

Sad article.

[antinomian]

"Wouldn't that be more like 60 or 70 years?"

You are assuming it was a legal abortion?

[QBFimi]

My aunt died of inoperable cancer in her late 70s. In her last few days, when the pain got unbearably severe, she was administered a morphine drip. When it first started, she began sobbing inconsolably; my mother (her older sister) ordered us out of the room. Later Mom told us she had had an abortion at age 19; she had ghastly visions of her little girl calling to her from an uncovered grave. Her husband had returned from WW2 sterile - she was childless.

[Servant of the Cross]

Thanks for posting this perspective from Chuck Colson.

Here's a link to a thread about the encouraging LA Times editorial by Kissling/Michelman. It does "sound like pro-choice conceding defeat". We, who were once "declasse" are now "respectable". We've come a long way, baby!

Think about it, they are now the ones who are "anti-science"! They don't want "three-dimensional ultrasound images". They don't want the public display of the "nitty-gritty details of abortion procedures". Goodness, even in this article Kissling/Michelman goofed and used the term "baby" instead of their preferred "fetus" (Three-dimensional ultrasound images of babies in utero began to grace the family fridge."). They are doomed.

[Walkingfeather]

I think your description is accurate.... for you and me and about everyone. That is why we need a Savior to stand in our place. God chose to Love and save us when we were all those things you described, not after we got saved and straightened our lives up.

[ThisLittleLightofMine]

Caroline unfortunately is a minority. I truly believe that most of these women dread the inconvenience and annoyance of an abortion but frankly see little wrong with it.

____________________________________

I think as women age they do see the folly in those “choices”. But I believe abortion will not change until people value human life, and value the fact that we are created in God’s image, not the product of “cosmic accidents”. That point of view devalues who we are.

[redpoll]

A lot of us suffer from remorse and guilt. My girlfriend and I had an abortion in 1975, when it was first legalized, and we were stupid enough and gullible enough to be fooled by those who seemed older and wiser. The experience has left a scar on my soul that will always be there. I see the ghost of that child whenever I look at my son today, who is now nine years old. It’s an awful feeling of despair knowing that my son should not be an only child.

I haven’t seen that young woman in 32 years, either, and I’m sure that she feels the same way. And I’m sure there’s a lot of men and women out there who feel that remorse in their souls, too.

[Sherman Logan]

If she was 92 and had an abortion as a “young woman,” surely it would have been a good deal more than 50 years ago.

[ßuddaßudd]

The experience has left a scar on my soul that will always be there.
I feel the same way....

[Red6]

You make some good points.

To supplement your post. Near all states have laws that require hospitals, police stations as well as fire departments to take on children without asking any questions. If some mother really does not want her child, she can literally drop it off at any of these places, and it has accrued.

So why do many of these women choose to have the abortion? It’s a way to cover up their behavior and clinically remove any trace of it, protected by privacy rights. There does not need be any explaining to family, friends or anyone else. Screw around, get knocked up, have it sucked out, and enjoy the latte while watching friends the next week.