From: jviv@usmi01.midland.chevron.com (John Viveiros)
Newsgroups: talk.abortion,talk.politics.misc,talk.religion.misc
Subject: Re: New Study: More Post Abortion Trauma Revealed!!!
Date: 11 Dec 92 22:10:36 GMT
Organization: Chevron

In article <1992Dec9.204832.2065@tc.fluke.COM> emery@tc.fluke.COM (John Emery) writes:
>In article <1992Dec3.024807.18874@mnemosyne.cs.du.edu> jmayson@nyx.cs.du.edu (John Mayson) writes:
>>      [we can't be protected from everything]
>
>Unfortunately abortion *can* be likened to an automobile wreck for
>many women.  About a week ago, I was able to hear the stories of
>many women who opened up to share their abortion experiences.  Many
>of the women had their abortions back in the seventies, almost 20
>years ago.  And to this day, these different ladies shared how it
>still haunts them.  The tears and emotional pain they shared as they
>realized what they had done was a real eye opener for me to the effect
>of this post-abortion syndrome.  It is real heartbreaking to hear
>of these women have gone through.
>
>A common experience that I heard amongst these women was that they
>had been convinced either by an abortion clinic, boyfriend, or relative
>supportive of the abortion, that there really wasn't a child inside
>of them.  However, after the abortion, there was a common experience
>of a realization that what was aborted was a real person.
>
>For one lady, it was more than just a mental realization.  She shared
>how after receiving a saline injection, they left her alone in a room
>to give birth to the aborted fetus (about 4 or 5 months along).  When
>she happened to look down at it, she was horrified to see the last
>movements of what appeared to her to be a very real looking developing
>baby.  And after many years, she has been plagued by this experience.
>
>And then there were men who shared their hurt also.  This is something
>that is not heard of as much.  But there were a few men who opened up
>to reveal similiar pain.
>
>What I learned in all this is that this trauma is real and life-long.
>The hope in all this is that there is healing through the greatest
>emotional healer: The Lord Jesus.  It brought me to tears to hear of
>the forgiveness and healing that many women who turned to Christ were
>experiencing.  The joy and the release of knowing that in God's eyes
>they had been forgiven as they confessed their sin and trusted in the
>Jesus' atoning death for their sin.  And it makes me thankful, because
>I too have had much to be forgiven of and have found the joy of God's
>love through this forgiveness.
>
>God bless you all richly.
>
>John
>-- 
>John Emery		"You say we've risen to a new age of light.
>emery@tc.fluke.COM       You're telling me what used to be wrong
>			 is now right."

Rather than anecdotal evidence, I tend to listen to the experts.  In
this case, my expert is a well known conservative Republican with the
Reagan administration:  C. Everett Koop.  The Reagan admin wanted a
study on post-abortion trauma done in order to strengthen the case of
prohibiting abortions.  When the study result came back to Reagan, the
results said there is *no* evidence of significant post-abortion trauma
(I assume, related to the alternative--having and caring for the baby or
giving it up for adoption).  Reagan told Koop to redo the report to find
evidence of trauma.  Much as Koop would have liked to, he showed
integrity and refused.  I trust Koop, as he had as much reason as anyone
to find evidence of trauma.  I don't believe in any systematic
post-abortion trauma.  Individuals may be traumatized, and that is one
reason to make sure that abortion is a decision that is made with a lot
of thought.
Koop's integrity is the main reason I'm a big fan of his, and I hope
Clinton is smart enough to get this guy on his team.
-- 
John Viveiros     (jviv@chevron.com)
Chevron USA        Standard disclaimer applies
Midland TX 
Newsgroups: talk.abortion,alt.fan.rush-limbaugh