Booklets
Burrin, Angela M. After Abortion: God Offers Forgiveness, Healing and Hope, 2nd ed. Ijamsville, MD: The
Word Among Us Partners, 2010.
This booklet contains seven guided Scriptural meditations to help women who are suffering in the aftermath of abortion to experience God’s merciful love more deeply. Beginning in early 2010, it will be available free through The Word Among Us Partners: www.waupartners.org.
Coyle, C. T., PhD. Men and Abortion: Finding Healing, Restoring Hope. New Haven, CT: Knights of
Columbus, 2009.
Cost is $1.00 each, with discounts for large quantities. Call 203-752-4574, or visit the Knights of Columbus
Catholic Information site at www.kofc.org/un/eb/en/about/contact/cis_contact.html.
Kupferman, Fr. Larry. A Rachel Rosary. Totowa, NJ: Catholic Book Publishing, 1994.
A prayer resource for individuals or groups.
Pable, Martin, OFM Cap. Healing for Your Soul: A Guide for Post-Abortion Fathers. Milwaukee, WI:
National Office of Post-Abortion Reconciliation and Healing, 2007.
This booklet is designed to be put in a parish in a location where men can pick it up. It is a gentle introduction to post-abortion healing for fathers, written by a priest psychologist with many years of experience in post-abortion healing ministry and expertise in the spiritual development of men. Available individually or in bulk: $4.00 each, including postage and handling, from menandabortion@yahoo.com. For more information or to place an order, call the National Office of Post-Abortion Reconciliation and Healing at 800-5WE-CARE.
Books
Brennan, Jane. Motherhood Interrupted: Stories of Healing and Hope After Abortion. Centennial, CO:
Xlibris Corp., 2008.
The author, a professional counselor who is post-abortive and who has devoted her practice to helping those suffering post-abortion, presents fifteen stories of abortion and healing.
Burke, Kevin, David Wemhoff, and Marvin Stockwell. Redeeming a Father’s Heart: Men Share Powerful
Stories of Abortion Recovery. Bloomington, IN: AuthorHouse, 2007.
A collection of stories of men who were involved in abortions and their recovery.
Burke, Kevin, et al. Sharing the Heart of Christ. Staten Island, NY: Priests for Life, 2009.
Authored by the founders of the Rachel’s Vineyard post-abortion retreats and Fr. Frank Pavone, this book discusses abortion trauma, the methodology of Rachel’s Vineyard, and tips for counselors and clergy involved in post-abortion ministry.
Burke, Theresa. Forbidden Grief. Springfield, IL: Acorn Books, 2002.
Deals with what is called “traumatic reenactment” as it pertains to women dealing with an abortion loss.
Coyle, C. T., PhD. Men and Abortion: A Path to Healing. Lewiston, NY: Life Cycle Books, 1999.
Resource to understand the wounds of a man after abortion as well as a process to help him heal.
Dillon, Fr., John J. A Path to Hope. Totowa, NJ: Catholic Book Publishing, 1990.
A practical book about how to assist those suffering in the aftermath of abortion, including prayer suggestions, written by a priest who has done post-abortion ministry.
Gray, Kathleen, and Anne Lassance. Grieving Reproductive Loss: The Healing Process. Amityville, NY:
Baywood Publishing Co., 2002.
Extremely helpful book for those who assist women and men who have had reproductive losses, including abortion. This relatively short book is an easy read and provides concrete suggestions for clergy, grief facilitators, and mental health professionals; written by experts in the field of grief.
Horak, Barbara. Real Abortion Stories: The Hurting and the Healing. El Paso, TX: Strive for the Best
Publishing, 2007.
Fourteen stories by women and one by a man recounting their struggles after involvement in abortion and how they eventually found peace.
Kirk, Peggy. You Aren’t Alone: The Voices of Abortion. Nevada City, CA: Blue Dolphin Publishing, Inc., 2003.
A marriage and family counselor presents a dozen stories of abortion aftermath and healing, along with a resource section on where to find help for those contemplating abortion, medical risks related to abortion, and chapters on abortifacient contraceptives.
Maestri, Fr. William F. Do Not Lose Hope. Staten Island, NY: Alba House, 2000.
A series of eight short reflections on the lived experiences of women struggling after abortion, tied to the words of Pope John Paul II in paragraph 99 of Evangelium Vitae (The Gospel of Life). The author, a priest, writes from his own experience as a pastor who has counseled post-abortive women.
Mannion, Fr. Michael T. Abortion and Healing: A Cry to Be Whole, 2nd ed. Kansas City, MO: Rowman and Littlefield/Sheed and Ward, 1986.
This book provides an overview of post-abortion healing, written by a priest who is a pioneer in the field of postabortion ministry.
Mannion, Fr. Michael, ed. Post-Abortion Aftermath. Lanham, MD: Rowman and Littlefield, 1994.
Collection of papers presented by experts in abortion aftermath at a conference in Washington, D.C., in 1995.
This is an overview book, with a chapter on Project Rachel and a chapter on sacramental healing.
Nykiel, Connie. No One Told Me I Could Cry: A Teen’s Guide to Hope and Healing After Abortion. Lewiston,
NY: Life Cycle Books, 2001.
This book is targeted to teens and young-adult women who have had abortions. It can be purchased in quantity by campus ministers and youth ministers and left in a place where people can see it, with a note that says, “For your friends. Please keep it in circulation.” No other book targets the young woman who has recently experienced an abortion loss while not being psychologically mature enough to process all that has happened.
Reardon, David C. Aborted Women, Silent No More. Chicago: Loyola Press, 1987.
An overview of years of research in the abortion experience. Dr. Reardon is considered one of the world’s experts in the field.
Reardon, David C., PhD. The Jericho Plan: Breaking Down the Walls Which Prevent Post-Abortion Healing. Springfield, IL: Acorn Books, 1996.
A short, concise resource developed to assist clergy in preaching about the emotionally charged issue of abortion.
Reardon, David C., PhD. Victim and Victors: Speaking Out About Their Pregnancies, Abortion, and Children
Resulting from Sexual Assault. Springfield, IL: Acorn Books, 2000.
Personal stories of women’s different choices and experiences after having conceived a child as a result of a sexual assault.
Ring-Cassidy, Elizabeth, and Ian Gentles. Women’s Health after Abortion: The Medical and Psychological
Evidence, 2nd ed. Toronto, Ontario: deVeber Institute, 2003.
Based on 500 articles from journals in the past twenty years addressing issues that follow abortion loss. Excellent for anyone looking for an overview of research and issues. Written by a psychologist and bioethicist. Also available online at deveber.org/womens-health-after-abortion.
Riols, Noreen. My Unknown Child. Colorado Springs: Multnomah Books, 1999.
One woman’s poignant and beautifully written story of her journey from emptiness and regret, after an abortion recommended by doctors, to peace and healing through Jesus Christ.
Shostak, A., and G. McLouth. 1984. Men and Abortion: Lessons, Losses, and Love. New York, NY: Praeger.
Having accompanied his girlfriend for her abortion, sociologist Shostak was moved by the experience. This led him to survey 1,000 males in thirty abortion clinics in eighteen states. He was surprised to find that other “waiting-room men” felt excluded, wanted to have counseling at the clinic, and were overwhelmed by their own negative emotional responses to the abortion. This work remains the only academic book on the subject today.
Stanford-Rue, Susan. Will I Cry Tomorrow? Healing Post-Abortion Trauma. Ada, MI: Revell, 1993.
Describes the personal aftermath of abortion experienced by Dr. Stanford-Rue and the long-term healing that is possible.
Brochures and Articles
Available from the USCCB Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities (phone: 866-582-0943). For descriptions, please refer to the Secretariat’s catalog at https://www.usccb.org/resources/rlp-21-catalog.pdf.
After the Abortion, by Sr. Paula Vandegaer (Item #9901-VAN)
Bridges of Mercy for Post-Abortion Healing (Item #1641)
Healing Within Marriage From An Abortion (Item #1441)
Divine Mercy in My Soul, by Theresa Bonopartis (Item #0001-BON)
“The Hollow Men”: Male Grief and Trauma Following Abortion, by Vincent M. Rue, Ph.D. (Item #0846)
How to Talk to a Friend Who’s Had an Abortion (Item #0120)
Neither Do I Condemn You (Item #9906)
A Special Word to Women Who Have Had an Abortion, by E. Joanne Angelo, MD (Item #9701-ANG)
Pamphlets
Available from www.lifecyclebooks.com:
Do You Know Someone?
The Fear I Felt
Forgotten Fathers
Hope and Healing
The Pain That Follows
Secret Sorrow
Prayer Cards
Available from the USCCB Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities (phone: 866-582-0943). For descriptions,
please refer to the Secretariat’s catalog at https://www.usccb.org/resources/rlp-21-catalog.pdf.
Prayer for Healing (Item #9911)
Trust in God’s Mercy (Item #9913)
DVDs
Available from www.lifecyclebooks.com:
Dear Children
Beyond Regret
Web Sites
www.hopeafterabortion.org—USCCB Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities, supports the Project Rachel Ministry
www.noparh.org—National Office of Post-Abortion Reconciliation and Healing (NOPARH)
www.menandabortion.info—“Reclaiming Fatherhood,” an educational outreach of NOPARH
www.afterabortion.org—The Elliot Institute
www.bethesdahealing.org—The Bethesda Healing Ministry
www.postabortionhelp.org—Lumina referral network
www.rachelsvineyard.org—Rachel’s Vineyard retreats
www.familyfriendpoems.com/death/abortion-poems.asp — Family Friend Poems, a website accepting and posting poems from the public, including those about losing a child in abortion
Morning or Afternoon of Prayerful Remembrance and Intercession
This prayer service—consisting of talks, testimonies, Eucharistic Adoration, Mass, intercessory prayer, and opportunity for confession—was developed by Theresa Bonopartis with the Family Life/Respect Life Office of the Archdiocese of New York. It has been conducted at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., as part of the January 22 Prayer Vigil for Life and is being replicated in many dioceses around the country. All talks, testimonies, and texts of prayers and hymns are available from Theresa Bonopartis (founder of Lumina post-abortion healing ministry) at 877-586- 4621 or lumina@postabortionhelp.org.
Support Group for Former Abortion Providers
The Society of Centurions of America was founded by Dr. Philip Ney. Abortion providers may be referred to the Society of Centurions for ongoing support. Its director, Joan Appleton, RN, a former abortion facility nurse, can be reached at 651-771-1500 (Pro-Life Action Ministries) or by mail at P.O. Box 75368, St. Paul, MN 55175.
Memorial Shrines and Sites
The Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception at the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy in Stockbridge, MA, have a Shrine of the Holy Innocents where you can memorialize a child. You can create a lasting memorial for a child on a glass wall tile (either 3 by 5″ for $200 or 6 by 5″ for $400), on a candle rack ($100), or in the Book of the Holy Innocents ($25). The construction of the new shrine will be completed by 2010; however, memorials are being created now. Call 800-671-2020 or visit memorialsonedenhill.org.
The loved ones of the children memorialized are remembered daily at Holy Mass, in the Rosary for Life, and in the Perpetual Novena to the Divine Mercy at the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy as well as in special Masses on December 12 (the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe), on December 28 (the Feast of the Holy Innocents), and on the third Saturday in July.
The National Memorial for the Unborn in Chattanooga, TN, offers nameplates for deceased children ($35). Visit www.memorialfortheunborn.org. Although a lovely setting, this is not a Catholic site.