There’s an interesting article in the Chicago Tribune that goes where few in the mainstream media world go. It explores the aftermath of abortion in the life of many mothers who choose to abort. The article details psychologist Theresa Karminski Burke, who founded Rachel’s Vineyard Ministries to help women recover from the pscyhological and emotional trauma many experience after having an abortion.
Burke stumbled upon the problem when leading a recovery group for women with eating disorders. One young woman in the group described how her problem started after an abortion. So she began exploring the subject, and eventually started Rachel’s Vineyard, which has grown ever since. It is not popular to talk about post-abortion trauma because abortion rights groups downplay its significance and many Christian groups don’t pay attention to the issue, but it is very real. “There are just so many unresolved emotions with abortion,” Burke said. “And because the whole subject has become so politicized, no one talks about it. The pain just stays buried and never gets dealt with.”
“If people can’t recognize [abortion] as a source of profound grief, I don’t know what is.”
Too often it seems that evangelicals are quick to talk the talk – we are good with moral and political rhetoric when it comes to abortion. But I fear that too often we don’t go further than that, showing compassion and kindness and offering help to young women in need, both before and after abortion. What would that look like, and how would it change the way the abortion debate is framed and carried out?
UPDATE: Through this post I found a good blog devoted to the subject: AfterAbortion.blogspot.com