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Abortion causes or leads to:

• Lack of self-esteem
• Post-traumatic stress disorder
• Sexual dysfunction
• Suicidal tendencies and attempts at suicide
• Nicotine, alcohol and drug abuse
• Eating disorders
• Child neglect or abuse
• Marital breakdown and relationship problems
• Repeat abortions

Here's something special written to all women who have had abortions:

"A special word to women who have had abortions:
 
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 my 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 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. You will come to understand that nothing is definitively lost and you will also be able to ask forgiveness from your child, who is now living in the Lord.
 
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."
 
Pope John Paul II - The Gospel of Life, 99

But there is light in all the darkness that surrounds lives affected by abortion. Below is a piece taken from an information page of Rachel's Vineyard a most successful service offering healing for those who are post-abortion:

What is Rachel's Vineyard?

"Rachel's Vineyard weekends for healing after abortion are offered throughout the year in locations across the United States and Canada, with additional sites in Portugal, Australia and New Zealand. We also offer a 13-week support group model for Rachel's Vineyard.

The program is an opportunity to examine your abortion experience, identify the ways that the loss has impacted you in the past and present, and helps to acknowledge any unresolved feelings that many individuals struggle with after abortion. Because of the emotional numbness and secrecy that often surrounds an abortion experience, conflicting emotions both during and after the event may remain unresolved. These buried feelings can surface later and may be symptoms of post abortion trauma.

Married couples, mothers, fathers, grandparents and siblings of aborted children, as well as persons who have been involved in the abortion industry have come to Rachel's Vineyard in search of peace and inner healing. The weekend is a lot of work but yields a fruitful harvest for all who are willing to labor there. To learn more, please read about our weekend retreats. Also, please see comments from people who have attended the weekends, as well as our explanation of the name "Rachel's Vineyard." 

History of Rachel's Vineyard

"Theresa Karminski Burke, Ph. D., started one of the first therapeutic support groups for post-aborted women in 1986 after founding The Center for Post Abortion Healing.

In 1994, Rachel's Vineyard: A Psychological and Spiritual Journey for Post Abortion Healing was first published. It was a unique support group model for counselors, offering a very concrete, emotional experience for women who were grieving the loss of their aborted children. In 1995, Theresa adapted and expanded the curriculum into a format for weekend retreats. Soon individuals seeking healing began to travel from other states to experience this very effective healing process.

Without a budget, office or advertising, Rachel's Vineyard became a grassroots national outreach. By word of mouth only, the retreats began to spread across the country because of the retreat's dramatic effectiveness, from 18 retreats in 1999 and growing to 35 retreats in 2000. Currently, Rachel's Vineyard has grown to 250 retreats annually, held in 45 states and 11 countries, with many new sites in development.

Theresa Karminski Burke, Ph.D., has lectured and trained professionals nationally on the subject of Post Abortion Healing. Rachel's Vineyard Ministries offers an annual Leadership Training Conference specifically designed for those who currently use the Rachel's Vineyard program. She also trains retreat teams in the method and process.

The Rachel's Vineyard healing models are used by mental health professionals, post abortion ministries, crisis pregnancy centers, pastoral care and faith based outreach programs."

Who funds Rachel's Vineyard?

"Rachel's Vineyard Ministries is an outreach run by Kevin and Theresa Burke. Theresa is the author of the Rachel's Vineyard Retreat Manual and support group models and the founding director of Rachel's Vineyard. Rachel's Vineyard is a Non-Profit 501 C(3) organization, which is funded by private grants, individual donations, and the assistance of Priests for Life.  The Burkes presently operate as a training resource for any group who wishes to offer this beautiful program for spiritual and emotional healing after abortion. [If you would like to make a donation towards our work, we would be most appreciative.]

Each Rachel's Vineyard site is independently operated by a sponsoring organization. The Rachel's Vineyard weekend for healing after abortion is presently being offered by over 90 teams across the United States, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Portugal and rapidly spreading! Some Rachel's Vineyard retreats are hosted by church based ministries, counseling outreach programs, Project Rachel offices or Respect Life groups, and crisis pregnancy centers. It is offered in both Catholic and interdenominational settings." 

Resources

"Rachel's Vineyard also provides resources for those in post abortion ministry. In addition to the Rachel's Vineyard weekend manuals and support group model, Theresa Burke, Ph.D., is the author of Forbidden Grief: The Unspoken Pain of Abortion, with David Reardon, the nation's leading post-abortion researcher. Forbidden Grief is an extensive study and analysis of the trauma experienced by thousands of women, men and couples she has helped after their abortions."