ABORTION DOES NOT ONLY TAKE LIFE
By Rev. Fr. Clifford Atta Anim
When Pressure Increases and Fear Blinds
Many abortions are performed out of fear rather than hatred or selfishness. A student may fear academic disruption, a father may be unemployed and anxious, or a young woman may feel overwhelmed by an unexpected pregnancy. The idea that abortion is the only option can be influenced by family pressure, abandonment, shame, or even false information from experts.
Fear, however, is a bad guide. It warps reality. Even today’s seemingly pressing excuses “I can’t afford a child”, “My parents will disown me”, and “This will ruin my life” are frequently short-lived. The child is permanent. The decision is permanent. And when the dust settles, the reasons fade. However, what remains is the reality of a life taken and a soul left to carry the weight.
“There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end, it leads to death” (Proverbs 14:12, NRSV).
A life is lost during an abortion, but that’s not all.
1. Physical Repercussions
Abortion is not a new beginning. There are risks associated with even medically “safe” abortions, and these risks increase if the procedure is performed in secret or in unsafe environments. Among the complications are:
- Perforation or damage to the uterus
- Sepsis-causing infections
- Future ectopic pregnancies or infertility
- Unfinished abortions and bleeding
- Potential connections to breast cancer (debatable)
According to the World Health Organization (WHO, 2021), unsafe abortions can be responsible for up to 13 percent of maternal deaths in developing nations.
“Are you not aware that the Holy Spirit resides within your body as a temple?” (1 Corinthians 6:19 NRSV)
2. Psychological and Emotional Impacts
Abortion may provide temporary relief, but innumerable accounts show that it causes long-term emotional suffering. Although the symptoms of post-abortion syndrome are commonly reported, not all psychological manuals have an official classification for it:
- Anxiety and depression
- Suicidal ideas or actions
- Extreme self-loathing or guilt
- Intrusive thoughts and nightmares
- Struggles in future relationships or parenting
True Story: “It’s been ten years, Father,” a woman once said to me during counselling section. “I have other children now. But I still see her face in my dreams, even though I never saw her alive.”
“You will not be absolved of the guilt of innocent blood” (Deuteronomy 19:10)
3. Moral and Spiritual Effects
Abortion is a moral violation as well as a medical procedure. It breaks communion with God, with the child, and frequently with oneself. The Catholic Catechism is clear:
“Human life must be completely respected and safeguarded from the moment of conception. Infanticide and abortion are abominable crimes.” (CCC 2270–2271).
However, the Church serves as a healing tool in addition to being a voice for moral truth. The Sacrament of Reconciliation offers mercy to every soul that has been harmed by abortion.
“Your sins will be as white as snow, even though they are scarlet.” (Isaiah 1:18 NRSV)
The Unborn in Scripture: God Knows Them Before They Are Born
The Bible repeatedly affirms the value of life from the womb:
Jeremiah 1:5: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you were born I set you apart.”
Psalm 139:13-16: “You knit me together in my mother’s womb… Your eyes saw my unformed body.”
Luke 1:41 “When Mary greets Elizabeth, the baby leaped in her womb.” The unborn John the Baptist recognizes the unborn Jesus.
Life in the womb is already personal, as these verses profoundly demonstrate. Sacred already. Selected already.
The Teachings of the Church Fathers
The Church has categorically opposed abortion since the early centuries:
Didache (1st century): “You shall not murder a child by abortion nor kill what is born.”
Tertullian (c. 200 AD): “To prevent birth is only faster murder… it is a man who is to be a man.”
St. Basil the Great: “A woman who deliberately destroys a fetus is answerable for murder.”
These voices confirm that the Church’s stance is based on the unwavering witness of the Christian faith and is neither contemporary nor politically driven.
Testimonies and Firsthand Narratives
- I have suffered from depression for years following a forced abortion at the age of 17. She discovered healing at the age of 30 through the Catholic post-abortion healing ministry. She now frequently discusses the importance of life and God’s mercy in public.
- Rev. Fr. Samuel’s Experience: “I once accompanied a young woman who had two abortions, he said, recalling his time as a parish priest in a small rural town.” She became a pro-life counselor after her conversion. Her suffering turned into her calling.
For Priests and Pastors: Serving as Servants of Mercy
We must be truthful and compassionate when discussing abortion in confession or from the pulpit. Deep wounds are carried by many men and women. Our job is to accompany, not to accuse.
Pastoral Actions:
- Preach clearly but compassionately about the sanctity of life. Don’t be silent.
- Offer confession regularly and speak openly of God’s mercy.
- Refer to healing ministries.
- Accompany post-abortive women and men with patience and discretion.
- Educate youth before they face the crisis. Prevention begins with formation.
“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18 NRSV)
Conclusion: Mercy, Life, and the Future
Abortion does not only take life. It wounds the body, the heart, the mind, and the soul. But Christ came not to condemn the world, but to save it (John 3:17). The Church, as His body, stands not with a gavel, but with the Cross.
To those who carry this wound: You are not alone. You can still be forgiven. Your past does not define you.
To those who still wonder: There is always a better choice than abortion. Adoption, support networks, Church ministries, and above all, trust in God’s plan.
Let us be a people who defend life not only before birth, but after it too.
God bless you
References and Resources
- Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2270–2275
- Holy Bible (NRSV)
- World Health Organization, “Abortion” Fact Sheet, 2021 – https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/abortion
- Rachel’s Vineyard Post-Abortion Healing – https://www.rachelsvineyard.org/
- United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, “Project Rachel” – https://hopeafterabortion.com
