The following interview is fascinating and revealing on a number of levels.  The format of this exchange is unique; a woman who had an abortion interviews her partner, the father of the aborted baby.  [Whatever your perspective on abortion, before going any further, read the exchange between this couple who remain together after the procedure.] Now that you have read Natalie and Rob’s dialogue, let’s dig deeper into their story.  Natalie shared: I found out I was five weeks pregnant…

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Jody Duffy, RN is a former Army officer, military spouse of 35 years and the wife of a Major General.   In the following excerpt from my book Tears of the Fisherman Jody shares some important insights from her extensive personal and professional experience helping women and men recovering from abortion loss: How widespread is the experience of unplanned pregnancy and abortion in the military? The military has a higher pregnancy rate than any other any group in the U.S. Because…

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David: I was in the Army and was called to complete my last year of service stationed in Germany.  We agreed that Susan would stay with her folks.  We would save our money, and she would begin looking at houses for when I returned.  That was the plan.  Susan called me shortly after I began my duty overseas and shared that she was pregnant.  The first thing I told her was, “we’re not ready for this; I have to finish…

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By Kevin Burke, LSW “There’s nothing in the world more powerful than a good story. Nothing can stop it. Nothing can defeat it…”  – Tyrion Lannister [Major Spoiler Alert for Series Game of Thrones!] Like the raging, grieving fire-breathing Drogon, Game of Throne’s (GOT) devotees are spewing some serious flames of anger at the writers and directors after the series finale.  A million of those disgruntled fans so disliked the final episodes that they signed a petition to demand a…

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by Kevin Burke, LSW You’re no doubt familiar with the African proverb, “it takes a village to raise a child.” Read carefully the following abortion testimony.  I highlighted, in bold italics, those individuals who were influential in the decision to abort the developing child in Dora’s womb.  As you will see, abortion is rarely a woman’s “private personal decision.” Having heard countless abortion stories like Dora’s over the years, let me assure you, it often takes a village to abort…

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July 22nd is the Feast Day of St Mary Magdalene. Contrary to the common misconception, Mary (from the town of Magdala,) was not the other Mary of scripture identified as a prostitute.  Mary Magdalene was a woman of some financial means, as she was in a position to contribute money to support the ministry of Jesus and the Apostles. In Luke 8:1-3 we read that at the start of Jesus’s ministry: “The twelve were with Him, and also some women…

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I just completed a Rachel’s Vineyard Weekend for healing after abortion loss, where I served as team counselor.  The retreat process features special scripture meditations, the sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist, and exercises that lead women and men to a deep emotional and spiritual healing. I was struck how each participant drew closer to Jesus as the meditations and exercises helped them express their pain, shame, anger and fear. In the growing safety and solidarity of the group, and empowered…

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By Kevin Burke, LSW Theresa Bonopartis is the Director of Lumina, offering hope and healing after abortion. A special area of her outreach features the “Entering Canaan” sibling retreat weekends which focus on the struggle of siblings who learn of a parent’s previous abortion, and the realization they have lost a brother or sister. I asked Theresa, based on her years of ministry with sibling survivors, to share some thoughts on the movie Unplanned: Theresa:  The impact of abortion on sibling survivors is very complex and…

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By Kevin Burke, LSW and Theresa Burke, Ph.D. March 25th is The Solemnity of the Annunciation, the celebration of the coming of the Angel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary to announce her special vocation to be the mother of Jesus Christ. The feast reminds us of the mysterious and intimate relationship of Mary with her developing son from the moment of his conception. A National Pro-Life Coalition  is urging all citizens to observe March 25 as the Day of the…

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By Kevin Burke, LSW The movie Unplanned tells the story of Abby Johnson. Johnson is a former Planned Parenthood director at a facility where over 22,000 preborn children were aborted. Johnson was a spokesperson for Planned Parenthood and believed strongly in the ideology of “reproductive rights.” She personally experienced a first-trimester abortion and later a chemical abortion. All this changed when Johnson was present during a surgical abortion at her Planned Parenthood and witnessed the reality of the procedure. This…

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