...In their own words

I am hoping that the following testimony will help to awaken pregnant women to the realization that the being they are carrying in their "nest" is a human being, first belonging to God because as soon as the seed takes its place in the mother's "nest," immediately at the same moment, God gives it a soul.

Oh, if only I had contemplated on the above sooner -- on the fact that God sanctified marriage, making it one of the seven sacraments and saying to the bride and the groom, "Increase and multiply," my husband, Robert would have been one of the most wonderful fathers.  Our baby and our love would have been with us and we would have been blessed with a family, living in God's grace.  It is now a nightmare that I aborted my and my husband's flesh and blood, proof of our great love.

My husband was out of work and I panicked when I learned about my pregnancy.  My brother's wife had accompanied me to the woman doctor who confirmed my pregnancy.  Seeing that I was worried about money problems, my brother's wife told me not to worry and assured me that a pill would abort "whatever is in there now."

So, in the summer of 1942, at the age of 29 and being two months pregnant, I had an abortion.  The pain was so excruciating that I felt that I was dying.  My body and my hair were drenched in perspiration.  It seemed to be taking so long.  The two women butchers were having a difficult time because I heard one say to the other, "I'm sorry I took this case.  This baby doesn't want to leave."  I was heartbroken when I heard her say that it was a baby.  When I told Robert, he remained silent but I could fell that he was heartbroken too.  A miscarriage followed.

I am now 87 years of age.  My beloved Robert has passed on without ever having achieved the desire of having a child, leaving me with much regret.

From the day of the abortion until this day, I have been carrying the burden of guilt because I participated in the murder of my baby.  Those words, "This baby doesn't want to leave" continue to haunt me.

Every teenager, boy and girl, should know that abortion kills a human begin.  A baby is happy to be born to a father and a mother who are anxiously waiting for their heavenly treasure.  It is the privilege of only a married man to plant the seed under the heart of his loving wife where this seed of life settles into her "nest" and is given a soul.  A soul which children should be taught belongs to God.  Mothers and fathers should be proud to bring children into this world and prepare them for heaven.

I wish I had known all of this 58 years ago when I thought that abortion would take care of "whatever is there now."  I didn't know that it was a baby until I heard those haunting words, "this baby doesn't want to leave."

Even though my priest has given me absolution because of God's great mercy for the grave sin which I have committed, I will grieve until my last breath for my precious little one who didn't want to leave its nest.  How can I forget_