Abortion

Mercy towards women who have had abortions

While the Church teaches that abortion is gravely immoral, she also teaches that God’s mercy and grace are never far from those who have sinned and seek God’s forgiveness. Along with women who have had abortions, it is common that the woman’s partner, family, friends, the abortion provider, and even society at large, are complicit in reaffirming (or even guilty of pressuring her) to make the “choice” of abortion. God calls all to repentance and to seek his mercy.

In the 1995 encyclical Evangelium Vitae, Pope St. John Paul wrote a special message to women who have had abortions: "I would now like to say a special word to women who have had an abortion. The Church is aware of the many factors which may have influenced your decision, and she does not doubt that in many cases it was a painful and even shattering decision. The wound in your heart may not yet have healed. Certainly what happened was and remains terribly wrong. But do not give in to discouragement and do not lose hope. Try rather to understand what happened and face it honestly. If you have not already done so, give yourselves over with humility and trust to repentance. The Father of mercies is ready to give you his forgiveness and his peace in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. To the same Father and his mercy you can with sure hope entrust your child. With the friendly and expert help and advice of other people, and as a result of your own painful experience, you can be among the most eloquent defenders of everyone's right to life. Through your commitment to life, whether by accepting the birth of other children or by welcoming and caring for those most in need of someone to be close to them, you will become promoters of a new way of looking at human life. "