Project Rachel— walking with post-abortive women on the road to forgiveness

Laura Keener

Editor

Announced in June 2024 by Bishop John Iffert, the Diocese of Covington, as part of its pastoral plan, has embarked on a three-year Campaign of Mercy. In year one, parishioners are asked to identify and make a corporal or spiritual work of mercy their own, incorporating that work of mercy into their life through service to others. In year two, the work of evangelization begins by inviting another Catholic person who is not active in the life of the Church to join in that work of mercy. Finally, in year three, the ask to join in that service work is extended to someone who is unchurched, eventually with an invitation to praying together.

In support of the Campaign of Mercy, each month the Messenger has been highlighting a corporal or spiritual work of mercy and ways to connect to that work through service with either a diocesan or local social service organization, a parish group or as an individual. This month the highlighted work of mercy is bearing wrongs patiently.

Bearing wrongs patiently is not an acceptance of injustice or hurts, but a realization that change is slow and requires prayer and persistence. It is also an invitation to healing and forgiveness, two other processes that require time. Project Rachel, a ministry of the Diocese of Covington, welcomes women who have had an abortion to experience God’s healing mercy and forgiveness.

After decades of carrying the guilt of an abortion, one woman began the process of reconciliation and healing as she was preparing to the enter the Church through RCIA. After entering the Church, she learned of Project Rachel from a witness talk during Christ Renews His Parish.

That witness, “was my catalyst to make the call,” she said about finding the courage to join a Project Rachel series. Due to the sensitive nature of abortion and out respect for the confidentiality of the Project Rachel program, the Messenger agreed not to identify the woman who was interviewed for this article.

Project Rachel is a confidential, 8-session program for women of all, or no, faiths. Project Rachel is a listening and sharing ministry consisting of two leaders — one woman who has had an abortion and one woman who has not — and just a few new participants. To facilitate the process of healing, women are encouraged to share their story, but no one is coerced to share or do anything that makes them uncomfortable. The program is offered through the Diocese’s Pro-Life Office at no cost to participants.

“It’s extremely difficult to make the call,” she said. “Statistically, women will have many touches before they’re ready or are able to talk about their abortion with someone else. If someone is sharing that experience with you, it’s so important to be empathetic and to listen to them and to encourage them. We know of Jesus’s promise to us that we’re forgiven, but oftentimes it’s them forgiving themselves that’s impossible,” she said.

In addition to being a mentor for Project Rachel, the woman interviewed also works at a local pregnancy care center helping vulnerable or abortion-minded women to take the time to recover from the shock of learning of an intended pregnancy and encouraging them to choose life for their baby. According to statistics provided by the Guttmacher Institute, one in four women will have an abortion during their lifetime. Also, from the Guttmacher Institute, in 2020, 42 percent of abortion patients reported having a prior abortion. For these women coming into the pregnancy care center, she shares the healing she experienced through Project Rachel.

“I spoke to a woman today, her priest gave her the card with the number for Project Rachel and encouraged her to try to make that call,” she said. “For her, that was a step toward her being able to forgive herself; she’s willing to try. She’s suffering in that violence of abortion, but she is wanting healing. She’s willing to walk that walk with someone else, through the Church, through the healing power of Christ and with the Holy Spirit to get there.”

Abortion, she said, is the sin that never seems to go away. Reminders are everywhere — in the crosses of the Cemetery of the Innocents displayed at parishes, during homilies, at political marches and during political campaigns, in discussions at small prayer groups and sometimes among family members. What’s important to remember, she said, is that when talking about abortion, to be aware that at least one woman in the room has probably had an abortion and that it is of the greatest importance for her to hear that healing and forgiveness is available through the Church. If your conversation leads a woman to disclose her abortion to you, don’t be afraid of that conversation. And don’t be afraid to revisit the conversation later, discreetly of course.

“Be open to being able to have that conversation. Love the person in front of you as Jesus would, hear her story and be able to help get her to a place where she’s willing to seek healing. Help her, help guide her to that, it’s so important,” she said. “The Church has that healing and forgiveness and it’s readily available. Just make sure that those touches are out there.”

While she admits that the journey to healing is long, with many stops and starts along the way, bearing that hurt patiently doesn’t mean putting off seeking forgiveness or from encouraging someone to seek forgiveness.

“If someone has a person in their life that’s come to them or shared their story, don’t be afraid to talk with them. Don’t be afraid to bring it back up again,” she said. “It might cause tears, and you might be afraid of the pain. Don’t be. Don’t be afraid to check in with them and see where they are. Oftentimes they’re not going to make that call the first time, so don’t be afraid to follow up and check back in with them. Pray with them about making the decision to make the call and step into healing.”

When a private choice becomes a secret burden, reach out for help and healing after an abortion. Call the Project Rachel confidential phone number at (859) 392-1547.

For more information on the Campaign of Mercy visit www.covdio.org/mercy.