Since abortion was legalized by the Supreme Court in Roe v. Wade, January 22, 1973, over 54 million babies have been aborted in the United States alone. This tragedy is compounded by the emotional scars carried by women who have experienced abortions.
Between 35-40% of women in the U.S. have had an abortion. The grief and guilt a woman carries with her after an abortion can be overwhelming. Abortion has been linked to an increased risk of depression, anxiety, substance abuse and suicidal attempts or thoughts. Even the Supreme Court has acknowledged that some women come to regret the choice they've made to "abort the infant they once created and sustained… severe depression and loss of esteem can follow," (Gonzales v. Carhart 550 U.S. 124, 159 (2007)). Even so, a majority of women never receive counseling or support following an abortion. One study notes that two thirds of women reported not receiving any counseling related to their abortion.
In light of the prevalence of post-abortion suffering, it is imperative that we focus on helping women heal from past abortions by showing them the love and forgiveness offered by Christ. Many Pregnancy Resource Centers and other Christian groups now offer hope for healing from past abortions through counseling and Bible studies created specifically for women who have experienced abortion. One such Bible study, Surrendering the Secret, by Pat Layton, LifeWay Press, 2008, has been widely used by counselors and pregnancy resource centers as they minister to women hurting from past abortions.
The Surrendering the Secret Bible study will be featured this month in Christian reality series, aptly titled Surrender the Secret, by the groundbreaking new internet Christian television network, Knock TV. The ten episode series premieres on January 22, 2013, marking the 40th anniversary of Roe v. Wade. It will follow five women who tell their stories of past abortions and embark on a journey toward healing together. Surrender the Secret touches on the serious topic of post-abortion healing with grace and compassion as well as high quality production one would expect from a more established television network.
KnockTV, headed by President and CEO Geoffrey Rogers, was created to "redefine what Christian television means to America," by offering programming that is "interesting, relevant, exciting, education and what Christians want to watch." Surrender the Secret will be the first of several planned shows offered by KnockTV. You can watch the show weekly, beginning January 22, on www.knocktv.com.
We must remember that post-abortion suffering is real and prevalent in our society. It is important that we reach out to lovingly support women on their road to healing and offer alternatives to abortion. KnockTV is playing a part in bringing awareness to post-abortion suffering through "Surrender the Secret." For more resources on post-abortion healing, visit Operation Outcry, an organization established to "end the pain of abortion in America and around the world by mobilizing women and men hurt by abortion who share their true stories of the devastating effects of abortion." You can find a link to the Surrendering the Secret Bible study on knocktv.com, and learn more about post-abortion suffering by downloading FRC's resource booklet, "Post-Abortion Suffering, A Psychiatrist Looks at the Effects of Abortion."
Source: FRCBlog
