By Matt Abbott
Op/Ed
Catholic Online

"Real Abortion Stories: The Hurting and The Healing" is a new book edited by Barbara Horak.

According to one account:

"Abortion has impacted millions of women in the United States since Roe v. Wade more than three decades ago. 'Real Abortion Stories: The Hurting and The Healing' is a collection of short, riveting stories by 14 women and one man that explain the desperate situations that drove each of them to choose abortion. It also describes their abortion experiences, tells of the heartbreaking aftermath of their decisions, and illustrates how they found healing and peace. These captivating first-person accounts reveal a side of the abortion issue that is seldom heard.

"‘I appreciate the considerable effort by the contributors of these stories,’ writes Barbara Horak, who assembled this bold anthology. ‘Theirs was not an easy task, as they wrote their deeply personal stories. But in almost every case, these courageous storytellers said that the effort was therapeutic. And they all hope that the telling of their experiences will help others steer clear of the mistakes they made, thereby avoiding the hurts they suffered.’

"Horak has seen the pain of abortion up close as a volunteer counselor for a pregnancy center. This, along with her concern about teenage pregnancies, has led her to speak hundreds of times in high schools and middle schools about the risks and consequences of premarital sex. She wants women to know that they are not alone in dealing with the traumatic aftermath of abortion, and she hopes these stories by others who have experienced and overcome the same problems will help them come to terms with their own healing.

"The stories themselves cover, without editorial comment, myriad situations in which women—and men—can find themselves. From being too young to have a baby to family embarrassment and pressure, if you are in an abortive situation, you will likely relate to at least one of the accounts. If you have hesitated to share your pain with friends for fear of rejection or judgment, you will see that your anguish is truly valid. You will benefit from the extensive listing of organizations, programs, support groups, and resources in the appendix—particularly if you suffer from the unbearable symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, common among post-abortive women. Even if you have never had an abortion, this eye-opening compilation will show clearly that many women are harmed emotionally at destroying a pregnancy.

"'Real Abortion Stories' is a must for women who have suffered as the result of an abortion, for those who are considering an abortion, and for everyone who needs to know that ending a life—at whatever stage—is not a casual event."

Horak also provided me with the following (edited) e-mail she very recently received from one of the book’s contributors:

“Barbara, I just came back from Mexico. I attended the Third Latin American Pro-Life Conference [sponsored by Human Life International, www.hli.org]. I gave my testimony in front of 1900 people, more than half of whom were youth! I distributed about 25 books. One is in the hands of a cardinal from the Vatican; about six are going to congressmen and congresswomen. One is going with a specific writing to Rudy Giuliani. Congressman Smith and his wife were there. They are very pro-life, and they will be the messengers. God was splendid with us in this trip. Two copies are in the hands of pro-life leaders from Spain. Some copies remained in Mexico, and some went to other countries in Latin America.”

"Real Abortion Stories" can be ordered at www.RealAbortionStories.com.

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From Jennifer Giroux:

“I wanted to ask you to look at what is happening right now in Kansas. I have set up www.ChargeTiller.com as an effort to draw national attention to the corruption of abortionist George Tiller. The time is critical to get the word out. If Tiller is charged, it may very well change the face of the abortion movement in this country.”

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(Matt C. Abbott is a Catholic columnist with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication, Media and Theatre from Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago, and an Associate in Applied Science degree in Business Management from Triton College in River Grove, Ill. He is the former director of public affairs for the Chicago-based Pro-Life Action League and the former executive director of the Illinois Right to Life Committee. He was a contributor to The Wanderer Catholic newspaper and had numerous letters to the editor published in major newspapers, including the New York Times, USA Today, the Wall Street Journal, the Chicago Tribune, and the Chicago Sun-Times. He can be reached at mattcabbott@gmail.com.)

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