An Open Letter To Planned Parenthood (And To All Those Suffering the Scourge of Abortion)

I recently read an article that mentioned Planned Parenthood is getting ready to mobilize nearly 3,000 paid women and 1,800 more volunteers to canvas neighborhoods throughout the United States to ensure that a “woman’s right to choose” is guaranteed in this upcoming election.

To say I was enraged when reading this is an understatement. I was beside myself. Hatred was burning deep within my veins when I read that Planned Parenthood was doing all they could and more to silence the voices for life.

However, when I took a step back, and after speaking with my mom, I realized that my hatred was not justified. As much as I am angry with Planned Parenthood for what they have done to this great nation, the bitterness I felt was replaced with pity. It is a pity for so many but most especially for those who have been deeply impacted by abortion on demand.

And I would like to share those thoughts with you in an open letter and an invitation to receive hope for anyone who has had an abortion, been affected by one or in some way or another taken part in that industry.

Here is what I would like you to know:

My dear brother or sister,

Honestly I thought I would be the last man to write something to you. I also cannot tell you the unworthiness I feel in my heart to share this. The feeling of extreme inadequacy is very present, especially after all the pain, anguish, regret and rejection you must feel over the decision to take part in an act which has no doubt altered your life and broken or at the very least confused your heart.

It is not my wish to add to your guilt, to disparage you, shame you or dredge up feelings of pain and anguish so few people seem to understand anymore. I do not know your life, or what led you down the path you are on. It is not my place to judge you either. I am free to judge any act as moral or immoral, loving or unloving. Abortion is gravely immoral and unloving to all parties involved. However, those who take part in it are still worthy of the heights of love and forgiveness, whether they realize it or not.

I remember serving a group of women who were pushing for safer abortions across the USA. At first, my reaction was shock and anger, which was gravely wrong of me. I did not know the past lives of these women I was serving.

Where some of them abused? Did they simply desire to feel loved and so gave themselves to a man they thought would help them reach the heights of heaven, only in the end to feel used, alone, pregnant and afraid? Were they forced into an abortion by their parents? Did they feel so alone and afraid they felt they had nowhere else to turn?

In the group I remember speaking to one young woman about her kids, and while she expressed joy in her little ones, I could see a deep pain in her eyes; a void left unfilled. Was it her own child she lost to abortion? A friends? Relatives? Something else? I do not know.

I cannot fully comprehend the pain a man or woman feels who has been through the scourge of abortion. I can only imagine that pain. To illustrate the pain a man feels, when I did prison ministry, the prison psychologist revealed to me that the majority of men in the prison had suffered either past abuse or abortion, tragically some of them had suffered through both.

While abortion is a great tragedy, the greater tragedy is, so many wounded by this so-called “right”, have refused the hope and healing which is so graciously offered to all of us. I know the pain of suffering the wounds of the Sexual Revolution as well as the turmoil, hurt and heartache, which comes with it. And I know the isolation of slapping away God’s loving and merciful hand.

However, no matter how much we slap his hand away, it always remains within arms length of us. And in between the Eternal Father and our fear of accepting his mercy, is Our Heavenly Mother, the Immaculate.

How does Our Lady tie into abortion? Simple. She could have easily aborted God’s plan for the salvation of humanity. She had the total freedom to say no to bearing his only Son. If she refused where would we be? That is a subject I would rather not think about.

When Mary said “yes” she accepted the responsibility of fostering, protecting, and sacrificing all for the most innocent being to ever exist, Jesus Christ. Her “fiat” was not merely an acceptance of God’s plan for her life, it was a heroic act to give all of us hope and when we needed it most, a second chance at life and love.

I was inspired to write this article from an image that I saw. It was an image of Our Lady consoling Eve. Eve was holding the forbidden fruit, head bowed in despair, the serpent binding her legs and not allowing her to move beyond her sin. She was covered by her hair, which represents the shame her act of disobedience has brought upon her. I cannot help but think this is the heart of so many women wounded by abortion.

On the other side of the portrait was Our Lady clothed in pure white, free from all stain of sin. However, unlike so many misrepresentations of her, she was not standing above Eve as if to shame her. She met Eve and every wounded woman where she is at. Even better, Mary met Eve face to face, gently reaching out to her, caressing her face to show Eve her true beauty and to absorb her shame into her Immaculate Heart. She invited Eve to rest her hand on her womb, on the giver of new life and renewed innocence! The hand so often can be a representative of the heart. Our Lady took the broken heart of Eve and rested it gently, lovingly on the heart that bled out for us, Her only Son! Mary crushes the head of the serpent, which binds Eve to her shame, her past, death, destruction and disobedience.

Our Lady takes on the grieving heart of motherhood, innocence and purity lost and gives the world her Immaculate Heart, unstained by sin, to offer us, to offer you, dear friend, hope and healing amidst the void of loss you may be in right now.

I do not know how Our Lord and Our Lady heal so many broken hearts, all I know is that they do. And they are offering so many men and women caught in the bondage of Planned Parenthood healing, newness and the life they desire to give you: freedom from sin, isolation, fear, judgment and the past.

Just as when we were kids and we feared going to our fathers, our mothers always acted as the intermediary. No doubt, your heavy heart may draw you away from the Heavenly Father. However that is why he gave us the Mother, to gently lead us to him, not to be shamed, but to be revered, loved, forgiven and healed. It was his invitation since mankind first sinned, it is his invitation here and now, for a time like this, which needs it so badly and needs you and your testimony.

Your healing can be a ripple in the ocean of another’s life. The ripple effect continues to spread across the water without end. It is timeless, constant, and covers everything. So to, when you heal from any affect abortion has had on you, your healing impacts the universe without end, the love you give spans your life, redeeming those of the past and reaching those of the future you have never even known. His mercy is boundless and surpasses the limits of your life and those you know.

I encourage you with all my heart, go to Him by way of Her and find the healing and wholeness you so deserve. It may not be easy but it is worth it.

Above anything else, always remember, you are worth it! In His Eyes, you possess a worth, which is valued by one thing only, the death His Son died on the cross for you. That is a worth that, though the price was paid, remains priceless because that is exactly what you are….the hidden gem, the pearl of great price, a reflection of the Heart of the Almighty God who makes all things, including your heart and past, even the wound of abortion, whole and new!