Parish Resources

• The Gospel of Life

• Hope and Healing

• How to Speak to Someone who has had an Abortion

• Homily Tips

• Bulletin Blurbs

• Images for Download

• Bulletin Inserts  (and Order Form)

• Posters

The Gospel of Life

If your child has died due to an abortion the Church has a special word for you too. 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.

-Pope John Paul II (Evangelium Vitae #99)
 

Hope and Healing

The Sisters of Life host Days of Prayer and Healing for those that are suffering and are seeking healing after abortion. Please call the confidential telephone line (866) 575-0075 or send an email to postabortion@sistersoflife.org.

Please assure those who come to you for help that there is Hope after abortion.

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How to Speak to Someone who has had an Abortion

Here are some suggestions from the Abortion Changes You outreach on how to create a safe place for people to talk about abortion.

Here are some suggestions about how to speak to someone who has had an abortion, and some things that we should not say:

What Not to Say

• Forget about it, it is in the past, move on

• You did what was best at the time (she knows this is not true)

• Abortion is wrong (she knows this too)

• You can have other children (this does not make up for baby she aborted)

• It was not a baby yet

• Don’t tell he how she should feel

• Don’t try to find a positive

• It was your decision

• You should be over this by now

• Don’t say you understand if you don’t

• Don’t tell her she was not ready to have a child

• It is for the best

• You will get over this

• At least you only had one (how do you know?)

What to Say

• Ask how she is

• Show care and concern

• Listen

• Say you are sorry she felt she had to do this

• Allow her to talk

• All her express anger regret and remorse

• Watch her for isolation

• Allow her to grieve

• Keep her confidentiality

• Be there for her

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Homily Tips

Here are some homily tips from a professional in post-abortion counseling.

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Bulletin Blurbs

Here are some suggested bulletin blurbs on the Abortion Changes You outreach.

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Images for Download

Click on the images below to download full-sized images to use them in your bulletin.

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Bulletin Inserts

Bulletin Inserts (as shown below, 8" x 11") have been printed and may be ordered through the Family Life / Respect Life Office by sending an Order Form (as shown below) via email: Kristen.Pearson@archny.org or via FAX: to (212) 371-3382.

Side 1 - Bulletin Insert              Side 2 - Bulletin Insert   

Order Form - Click to download

Posters

Full size posters (as shown below, 18" x 24") have been printed and may be ordered through the Family Life / Respect Life Office by sending an Order Form (as shown above) via email: Kristen.Pearson@archny.org or via FAX: to (212) 371-3382.

Side 1 of the Poster

Side 2 of the Poster

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