Letters

Abortion grief

Anne Lastman

Contents - Sep 2008 - Buy a copy now Editorial: World Youth Day 2008: the challenge ahead - Michael Gilchrist WYD08: World Youth Day 2008: what the media missed - Deborah Baker WYD08: Impressions of youth - Bridget Pati and Berni Sullivan WYD08: Faith: alive and well! - A pilgrim's progress - Catherine Sheehan WYD08: A reflection on WYD - Tim Cannon WYD08: Memories of homestay hosts - Emidio and Phyllis Restall News: The Church Around the World WYD08: Theology on Tap: young Catholics' response to relativism - Patrick Langrell The physical and mental scars of abortion - Charles Francis Foundations of Faith: Priesthood and the sacraments: Divine help for eternal salvation - Br Barry Coldrey Liturgy: No smoke without fire: Benedict XVI and true liturgical reform - David Birch Vatican: Restoration work completed near tomb of St Peter Letters: World Youth day (letter) - M. & L. MORRISSEY Letters: Courage of young Jozef Ratzinger (letter) - Frank Bellet Letters: Invaluable work of Anne Lastman (letter) - Errol Duke Letters: Moral equivalence (letter) - Leo McManus Letters: Abortion grief - Anne Lastman Letters: Buddha in church (letter) - E. Makaus Letters: Sex abuse apology (letter) - M.J. Gonzalez Letters: Vatican II (letter) - Frank Mobbs Poetry: The Sermon at Templestowe - Bruce Dawe Books: Saving Those Damned Catholics, by Judie Brown - Catherine Sheehan (reviewer) Books: THE WISDOM OF NAZARETH: Stories of Catholic Family Life - Siobhan Reeves (reviewer) Books: SAINT BENEDICT'S RULE: A New Translation for today, by Patrick Barry OSB - Michael Daniel (reviewer) Books: FAITH AND FIDELITY, by Anthony Meredith SJ - Michael Daniel Books: Books available from AD2000 Books Reflection: Archbishop Burke of St Louis: the responsibilities of a bishop - Archbishop Raymond Burke

As a response to Jo Wainer, referred to in Babette Francis' article 'A False Concept of Moral Equivalence' (July 2008 AD2000) as making 'insinuations about the influence of Irish Catholicism and religious belief on the abortion debate' (page 6), I would like to make mention that Japan is a non-Christian country and yet it recognises and provides for in utero losses including abortion with Mizuko Kuyo, a memorial service of remembrance.

It is not Judeo-Christian, but it does acknowledge the in utero loss as a death experience requiring a place especially designed to honour that loss and express the ensuing grief. It is a place and a remembrance service where mothers can go and be with their child in their loss; and these mothers are openly encouraged to grieve. It is a cop out by Jo Wainer and her like to bring in the Judeo-Christian ethic as cause for post-abortion grief.

Furthermore there is a place in Adria in Italy which has set up a beautiful memorial with a sculpture of a woman enfolding many babies who have died in the womb.

It is gradually being recognised that in utero deaths cause much anguish, irrespective of the nature of the death, including abortion.

Post-abortion grief is a grief which says that the mother deeply regrets the decision made and that the mother misses and longs for her baby which she aborted for whatever the reason at that time.

ANNE LASTMAN
Vermont, Victoria

Reprinted from AD2000 Vol 21 No 8 (September 2008), p. 14