The following letter was recently received by Fr. Frank and is
shared with permission of the writer.
My view on abortion was that although I didn't feel I would
ever have one myself, I felt it important that a woman should be able to
make the decision for herself. In [my] faith the subject was very seldom, if
ever, even mentioned. One of the reasons for my conversion was my sincere
need to find a religion that offered "steadfast, unchanging, rules" to live
by. It seemed to me that [my] faith was driven by the societal need to be
"politically correct" and to "not step on anyone's toes". As a young person
I can remember hearing many sermons on the evil of smoking cigarettes but
never heard abortion or fornication even addressed.
The attitude of the religion seemed to be a "don't ask, don't tell" approach.
Without set "rules" that do not change human beings tend to adopt the
attitude that if they do this this year and just keep it a secret, then next
year it will probably be acceptable. Besides, [my former religion said] that
"all is taken care of, God is totally forgiving and will always forgive you of
anything if you simply believe there is a God" assures you before you do that
which is wrong that you are always forgiven.
Therefore, my attitude about abortion the same as most of the people I
associated with. I felt that if God was going to forgive everyone who had an
abortion then who am I to feel it is wrong!
As I began to watch Mother Angelica and you I felt an uneasiness inside. I
began to feel a true sense of unrest about my attitude. After reading the
Catechism and learning more about mortal sins I came to understand that there
truly was a "set of concrete rules to live by". I understood that our bodies are
not our own. We belong to God! We do not have the right to end the life of the
tiny person God chose us to nurture inside and deliver into His world after nine
months. I finally made the connection between "Thou Shalt Not Kill" and the
"killing" of an unborn human being.
[In my former religion] I was taught the Ten Commandments but never taught
that the killing of a tiny unborn baby was also under that rule.
I understood fully for the first time the fact that we, poor stumbling
humans, need that strict, unswaying, unchanging, guiding hand of the
Pope, and the old Catholic faith in order to light our way down the narrow
path to Heaven. When we are offered a wider, smoothly paved, multiple choice
route our human nature embraces it because it's easier.
I also found that with these steadfast, unchanging rules I had a concrete
basis for stating my new found opposition to abortion.
How sad that millions of wonderful women who would never even think about
killing someone have been lulled into such an acceptance of abortion by those
who chose to "whitewash" this killing as a mere eradication of unwanted tissue!
Truly the Devil has made himself manifest in the abortion arena by playing with
the human ability to twist the truth for their own convenience.
I also am now able to see how the presence of "accepted" abortion paves the
way for fornication and adultery. It provides a solution for one consequence of
these acts.
Truly my conversion to the Catholic Faith has provided me with the seeds
necessary to cultivate and nurture thought patterns and fruits from an
enlightened perspective.
Other Personal Stories
Relating to Abortion
