Silent No More Post-Abortion Awareness Campaign Begins

The Elliot Institute ^ | 23 Nov 02 | Unlisted

[Mr. Silverback]

Washington, DC -- A new post-abortion awareness campaign called "Silent No More: Women speak out about their abortion experience" will bring women who have had abortions together at state capitols and in Washington, D.C., in January 2003 to speak out about their abortion experience.

According to Georgette Forney a co-founder of the campaign, "We are the voice that hasn't been heard. There is a lot of talk about whether or not abortion should be legal, but very little attention is given to the women who have actually had abortions. I regret having an abortion and I know that there are millions of women who feel the same way."

"The truth is abortion affects us physically, emotional and spiritually. It's time to speak honestly about the pain we've lived with and we want to help women who are hurting find healing. After 30 years it's time to listen to the women who have experienced it," Fourney explained.

"Silent No More" expects to be the beginning of a national campaign to raise awareness about the aftereffects of abortion. The campaign will also seek to reach the many women who are suffering in silence, offering them abortion recovery help and resources.

State gatherings are being held in 35-50 states at various times during the week of January 18 -26, 2003. The gathering in Washington, D.C., will take place January 22, 2003 after the March for Life.

David C. Reardon, Ph.D., director of the Elliot Institute and an expert on post-abortion research and education, this is the second time the theme "silent no more" has been used by abortion activists. It was first used by the early eighties, by abortion advocates who gathered at "Silent No More" rallies to read the testimonies from women who had suffered from illegal abortions.

"Their goal was to educate the public about the horror of illegal abortions in an effort to bolster support for legal abortion," said Reardon. "Ironically, they just assumed that legal abortion must be better for women. Since my research at that time was showing that legal abortions were also harmful to women, I was inspired by these rallies to name my first book, 'Aborted Women, Silent No More.' Indeed, my research led me to conclude that legal abortion might be causing even more harm to women than illegal abortions had. Legalization had created the false impression that abortion had been proven to be safe and beneficial and thereby reduced levels of caution. Even more seriously, legalization made it easier for men to pressure women into unwanted abortions. These, and other effects, led to ten times as many women suffering from abortions each year."

Reardon says it is very fitting that this new generation of abortion witnesses should speak out under the same title as the victims of illegal abortions. "Their testimonies prove that while the legality of abortion has changed, it's harmful effects on women have not."

Women who are interested in participating in "Silent No More" may sign up by going to the Silent No More website at http://www.HelpAfterAbortion.com or by calling 1-800-707-6635.

[Mr. Silverback]

Reardon says it is very fitting that this new generation of abortion witnesses should speak out under the same title as the victims of illegal abortions. "Their testimonies prove that while the legality of abortion has changed, it's harmful effects on women have not."

Dang straight. I've seen some really messed up womaen (and occasional men) due to this syndrome, and I've seen descriptions in the literature about psychotic episodes. The more the public knows about the aftereffects, the more we winnin the streets. It won't matter what the courts say about the "right" to abort if nobody wants to have one.

[Mr. Silverback]

ProLife Ping!

If anyone wants on or off my ProLife Ping List, please say so here or send me freepmail.

[Taiwan Bocks]

My parents had an abortion 31 years ago and our family of seven who remain are still in tatters and totally broken apart and disfunctional, unable to pick up and move on, since then.

[thinktwice]

With or without the involvement of religious ethics, those living in denial can never escape knowing right from wrong. And a large percentage of those most personally suffering from ethics-of-abortion denial can be immensely helped by openly and rationally dealing with that denial.

[SkyPilot]

The truth is abortion affects us physically, emotional and spiritually.

I have posted this story before, so I ask the pardon of those who see me repeat myself. But if you will permit me:

I met a woman who spoke at our church in Moorestown NJ a few years ago. She had had 2 abortions, and spoke from the pulpit to tell her story.

It was heart wrenching. She spoke of terrible after effects that only years later did she learn where common place among women who have had abortions:

- Nightmares of seeing body parts in a sink
- Daydreams where they swore they heard a baby crying
- Lack of sleep
- Depression
- Intense feelings of anger and rage towards seeing other mothers with their own young children

Many women who have had abortions suffer the same effects of post-traumatic stress syndrome that some war veterans experience. She did have one very wonderful message: that God heals, God forgives, and God loves.

And that is a very encouraging thought.

[cubreporter]

Wow, that must have really been something to experience. The thought of your parents having an abortion and the children knowing it. No wonder you all have had a hard time moving on. Wow...am so sorry.

[dd5339]

Pro Life Ping!

Semper Fi

[chiefqc]

To the pro choice gang, please explain:

1987 till today, 20/30,000,000 million murdered babies times $350.00 per murder equals 7/10,000,000,000 billion dollars in murdered baby blood money.

What a great record. Something to be really be proud to be part of and to tell your grandchildren/children about, unless you chose to perform this murder on them. Oh wait maybe it's only for other people, not yourself.

You discusting people are the types that don't want people to die in wars, murderers to be put to death for their crimes, You protest against using land for the good of the country because of some mite that someone decided is in danger.

BUT YOU SEE NO PROBLEM IN THE LEGAL ABORTATION (MURDER) OF MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF BABIES FOR BILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

[Teacher317]

Nice idea, especially if they gather enough unfortunate women with botched abortions, regretted decisions, etc. The press can't attack anyone who might be seen as a 'victim' and some positive messages can finally get some air time.

[Teacher317]

$10 Billion? That seems like big business. Shall we start seeing the network attacks on "Big Abortion"? Oh, look! A pig just flew by my window!

[Lysander]

My parents had an abortion 31 years ago and our family of seven who remain are still in tatters and totally broken apart and disfunctional, unable to pick up and move on, since then.

Big government should do something about it.

[anniegetyourgun]

Ping.

[dreamusic]

This is informative, thanks. I've passed the info on to my own mailing list. Maybe it will help someone out there if it is forwarded enough times. Another big lie of the feminists is that they care so much about women, that's why women need to have legal abortions. If they cared so much for the female sex 1) they wouldn't murder millions of female fetuses, 2) they'd hang around afterwards to offer post-abortion counseling and financial help instead of just taking their money and pushing them out the door, and 3) they would tell women the truth about the effects of abortion, including showing them pictures of live and aborted fetuses at various stages of fetal development. Since a fetus is almost completely formed at the time most women have abortions (little eyes, hands, fingers, heart, legs, umbilical cord, etc are all there) alot of women would change their minds.

[fporretto]

I believe this is the right approach. Lobbying, carrying angry placards and shouting condemnations has not worked.

Even Americans who strongly disapprove of abortion are reluctant to criminalize it. Needless to say, those who don't disapprove would never do so. The path of greatest improvement, both probable and potential, lies in pro-lifers acting, not as angry enemies, but as friends and counselors toward pregnant women.

We won't succeed in reducing abortions to zero, but we will reduce them. We will save lives -- and the minds, hearts, and souls of the women who would otherwise have done something to themselves from which they might never have recovered.

Freedom, Wealth, and Peace,
Francis W. Porretto
Visit The Palace Of Reason: http://palaceofreason.com

[Aquinasfan]

Thanks for the good news.

[Surge-on]

Count me in as a STRONG pro-lifer!!! Add me to your list, please.....

[jwalburg]

Cool photo

[Rockitz]

FINALLY! This is the correct tact against abortion. It is unassailable by pro-choice groups. I have been saying this for years and have written Chrisitan leaders about it.

Any legislation should be aimed at gaining even-handed counseling for those women and men considering abortion. An abortion doctor has an obvious conflict of interest. I hope their legislative agenda includes mandating such counseling. This is the correct first step in the war. Changing hearts is key to victory, but this is a law that could be changed without arousing a severe backlash from the pro-choice groups.

[cantfindagoodscreenname]

Big government should do something about it.

Your compassion is underwhelming.

I don't recall this person asking the government to do anything about his/her situation.

[MHGinTN]

Government should do something about the fetal tissue harvesting industry that now accounts for over a billion a year in revenues for the harvesters working their fingers in the abortion mills. When you undertsand that heinous business, you too might want government to intervene on behalf of the exploited.