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June 18, 2023By Simon Caldwell, OSV News
LIVERPOOL, England (OSV News) -- The reflections of a woman who regretted her abortion will form the key message of the 2023 "Day for Life" of the Catholic Church in England and Wales.
The bishops say this year's message is unique because it is the first time they have given over the annual Day for Life "to a Catholic woman who has had an abortion to share her experiences."
The theme for the June 18 event is "Listen to Her," and "post-abortion trauma and the impact of abortion primarily on women, but also men and others" will be examined, according to an undated statement posted on the website of the Bishops' Conference of England and Wales.
"Often the voices of women who have had an abortion are silent in Church and in society," said the statement. "The hope is that this will help break this silence and offer further opportunities for healing and reconciliation."
The key message is written by a woman who identifies herself only as "Jane" and who explains how she became pregnant at age 15 when "the culture spoke louder" than the Catholic morality that she was taught in school.
She explains how she visited a clinic connected to an abortion provider and the procedure was arranged without the consent of her parents.
She said: "I went through the degrading experience of a surgical abortion, and I thought that if I could just get through that day, I would never have to think about it again. I remember feeling conflicted as a tear rolled down my cheek."
"I believed I couldn't be sad because this was something I had chosen to do. So after the initial feeling of relief, I pushed down the experience and avoided anything to do with the topic of abortion."
Eventually, she said, she realized that her choice "didn't make me lose something, but someone."
"At times, this realization was unbearable," said Jane. "This led to periods of deep depression and suicidal thoughts, as well as more promiscuous behavior and numbing the pain with alcohol, food, or isolation."
"This all changed when I was encouraged to go to confession. Even when I tried to justify my choice, the priest met me with the love and mercy of Jesus. The tears he shed melted my heart of stone. I began to give up my old ways of life and follow His way."
She explained that she went on to receive support from Rachel's Vineyard, a healing ministry in the English Midlands that provides support for those who suffer after abortions.
"I was finally given permission to grieve for the baby that had died through my choice. I acknowledged my motherhood and named my son Joseph," she said. "This was the start of God turning the guilt, shame and unforgiveness into a deep love for my son, as any good mother would have."
"I've taken responsibility for the role I played in my abortion, but with perspective and time, I can see that my 'choice' wasn't really a choice at all," she added.
"The option that was presented as a quick fix solution has eternal consequences, and I truly believe that if I'd have known the impact abortion would have had on my life, even as a teenager, I would have made a different choice."
The Day for Life was established following the publication of "Evangelium Vitae" ("The Gospel of Life"), the 1995 encyclical of St. John Paul II. It also is celebrated by the Catholic Church in Ireland and Scotland.
In England and Wales, parishes are being encouraged to offer prayers for a culture of life, including a novena for life, and to contribute to pro-life charities.
Resources such as the testimonies of people who have endured post-abortion trauma are being made available and the church will publicize the work of groups that help victims of abortion.
The "Listen to Her" initiative comes after the British Parliament approved the U.K.'s first "thought crime" by forbidding silent prayer in the vicinity of abortion clinics.
In March, the House of Commons voted for an amendment to the Public Order Bill to criminalize any form of "influence" outside of all abortion facilities.
It makes prayer within a censorship zone punishable by an initial fixed penalty fine of $125, possibly rising to $1,250 if the accused is taken to court.
A month earlier, Isabel Vaughan-Spruce, a Catholic pregnancy counselor, was acquitted of charges in connection with silent prayer near a closed abortion facility in Birmingham where the city council has implemented a 490 feet buffer zone via a Public Spaces Protection Order.
Father Sean Gough, a curate who had held up a sign reading "Praying for the Freedom of Speech," was also cleared of wrong-doing.