Sorry for the long delay between posts. We wish we could write more often but all of us who post are also involved in many other projects. Please know that we want to continue to share stories, information, news and sometimes, our experiences with the wonderful women and men we serve. The other day something new came my way that I want to share with you.
Many of our patients and their support persons express spiritual concerns about forgiveness from God for choosing abortion. We as abortion providers listen to them and try to point them to their own clergy. If they have none, or are afraid to talk to their minister, priest, rabbi, or imam, we can refer them to Faith Aloud. While Faith Aloud is Christian in orientation, members of other faiths or with no affiliation can still find comfort there. You can leave a message at 1-888-717-5010 and a minister will call you back.
Rev Rebecca Turner, the founder of Faith Aloud, has created a DVD that some clinics have on site so you can view it before or after your abortion. If you have some religious or spiritual concerns, be sure to ask when you make your appointment if the clinic has this DVD. Rev Turner also has a video accessible on youtube.com that you can access as often as you wish. It's listed under Faith Aloud. I'd like to hear your comments on this video if you care to write back.
A few clinics even have a sanctuary for quiet reflection before or after an abortion. Some might have Bibles in English and Spanish as well as a Koran. Before you make an appointment, you can ask if the clinic you are going to has a brochure addressing spiritual matters or a Bible if these items are important to you.
Following are two Bible verses that Rev Turner pointed out and I'd like to share them with you.
Psalm 145:8-9
The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love.
The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.
Romans 8:38-39
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Peace,
Lu
Friends,
This is the Rev. Rebecca Turner. Thank you for helping to share our message. I do want to clarify, however, that we are an multi-faith organization, not Christian. I am personally Christian, and many of us in the organization are Christian, but the organization itself is multi-faith and has members from every conceivable religious and spiritual tradition. Please join our efforts to bring a compassionate spiritual perspective to women's lives. www.FaithAloud.org and www.YouTube.com/user/FaithAloud
Posted by: Rev. Rebecca Turner | Tuesday, June 16, 2009 at 12:47 PM
How delightfully odd to see this post when today I was reading Frederick Buechner's reflection on abortion. Buechner, who is a great and pastoral theologian, says,
"All we can do...is sin bravely,...(a)know that neither to have the child nor not to have the child is without the possibility of tragic consequences for everybody yet (b) be brave in knowing also that not even that can put us beyond the forgiving love of God."
Thank all of you for your work and the honesty with which you speak of it here.
Posted by: ymp | Thursday, May 28, 2009 at 10:17 PM