Saint Matthew Parish issued the following announcement on Mar. 21.
Unique ways to encounter post-abortion women or those in crisis pregnancies
Corporal Works of Mercy
Feed the hungry and give drink to the thirsty While the Church always wants to care for the spiritual and emotional needs of women in crisis pregnancy situations, many times the woman has other critical needs, such as the need for access to basic food for themselves or formula for their child. Donating gift cards or formula to pro-life centers can help support a woman who might otherwise think she can’t afford to have her child.
◗ Shelter the homeless Along with needing food and drink, some women find themselves literally in need of a roof over their heads. Places such as St. Anne’s home for at-risk pregnant young mothers in Los Angeles or the Alpha Omega Miracle Home in St. Augustine, Florida, offer shelter for these women in need. Such homes can be found all around the country and are excellent places for pro-lifers to support with their time, talent and treasure.
◗ Visit the sick Studies over the years have shown that post-abortion women have a higher risk of developing stress, anxiety and depression. Pro-lifers should be attentive to these risks and look for signs in order to point women in need to the right resources.
◗ Visit the prisoners According to the Bureau of Justice, 1 in 25 women in state prisons and 1 in 33 in federal prisons are pregnant when admitted to prison. Through our presence and prayers, pro-lifers can offer desperately needed support to these mothers-to-be.
◗ Bury the dead In order to facilitate healing, Project Rachel, the Church’s ministry to post-abortion men and women, offers a plethora of suggestions for those in pain. Among them: to identify the child as a boy or as a girl, to give the child a name, and to establish for him or her some kind of memorial. Such concrete action steps can help bring healing and closure to men and women who wish to remember and pray for the children they never got to know.
◗ Give alms to the poor All throughout the United States, crisis pregnancy centers operate often on shoestring budgets and by depending on the kindness of volunteers and donations. Pro-lifers can distribute alms to these worthy institutions in the form of baby bottles, diapers, clothes and other necessities that the organizations, in turn, can distribute to new mothers.
Spiritual Works of Mercy
◗ Admonish the sinner As a pro-life people, the Church has respect for the dignity of all. Women facing unplanned pregnancies, or those who have participated in abortion, deserve nothing less than respect, understanding and love. They likely also could benefit from a reminder of the everlasting mercy and love that God the Father has for them. Gently encourage those who you know to have participated in an abortion or other sinful act to return to God in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Only by making a good confession can one fully reconcile with God.
◗ Instruct the ignorant Some of the most frustrating misinformation on life issues is passed around via the today’s instant social media. A fruitful way to respond to negative campaigns often waged against pro-lifers is by waging a positive one. Consider supporting the annual Jan. 22 March for Life and pro-life issues by tweeting or posting support on Facebook using the hashtag #whywemarch. It’s a powerful, positive social media campaign that can help dispel the negativity and myths that can surround life issues.
◗ Counsel the doubtful There is a precious window of opportunity during which a woman who is considering an abortion may still choose life for her baby. Pro-lifers can best take advantage of this window by offering appropriate counsel for these women with the help of The Life App, an initiative of both the Fellowship of Catholic University Students and the Sisters of Life. The app helps pro-lifers 1) determine how to respond to the woman in need; 2) understand her perspective; and 3) locate a nearby crisis pregnancy center for additional support.
◗ Bear wrongs patiently Pro-lifers often experience persecution for speaking out for the dignity of life from conception to natural death. They may be ridiculed or not taken seriously for their views. Faith, though, requires a mature response. While never forfeiting the truth, pro-lifers are called to bear whatever wrongs that may be received with patience and humility, asking God to grant them the virtue of fortitude during their times of struggle.
◗ Forgive offenses willingly Forgiveness is an integral part of what it means to be pro-life. As people of life, pro-lifers should not condemn those in crisis pregnancy situations or those who have made the unfortunate decision to have an abortion. Instead, as modeled by God the Father, the best path for them to take is the one that witnesses to forgiveness and love.
◗ Comfort the afflicted It cannot be stressed enough that the best thing that pro-lifers can do when interacting with women in unplanned pregnancies or men or women who have participated in abortion is offer them comfort. Whether acknowledged openly or not, feelings of pain and guilt likely are present. Pro-lifers are called to offer comfort to these men and women in the hopes of easing their trials.
◗ Pray for the living, dead The best thing that we can do for women facing an unplanned pregnancy or those suffering from the loss of abortion is to offer our prayers for them. We also pray for the little ones who have lost their lives, and ask them to intercede to God for us.
Original source can be found here.
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