Ashley’s Story: A Choice, Heartbreak, And Forgiveness 

In its recently released annual report, Planned Parenthood performed 402,250 abortions for the year 2024. The total number of abortions reported by all providers, including Planned Parenthood’s numbers, is 1.2 million for the same period. That is innocent human life torn to pieces or chemically dissolved in the womb, without being given a chance to breathe, dream, and feel a mother’s love. In the aftermath of this brutality and callous disregard for the sanctity and dignity of life, is a story of one victim who has had to live with the effects her decision had on her life.

Our story begins at Sunday worship service at Ashley parish church. It had been some time since she had attended mass and was involved in any religious observance. Together with the congregation, she listened as Father Mike read from the Gospel of John and then delivered his often-inspiring homily, which that day included the sacred and vital part a mother plays in the lives of her family; it was Mother's Day.

The thought went through Ashley's mind as to why she had decided to attend mass on that particular day. Following the service, Father Mike asked for all the mothers to stand. Ashley then described her reaction, and how painful memories came flooding back. “At the close of our Sunday service, the pastor asked all mothers to stand for a special Mother’s Day blessing for all moms in the congregation. I wanted to run out of the church, or cry out in pain. But I sat there in silence and shame. See, many years earlier, I aborted two of my children.”

In discussing her experience afterward, Ashley shared her thoughts and Mother’s Day feelings. How it would have been a blessing had the pastor included in his Mother’s Day message an acknowledgement of the motherhood of those who have lost children to abortion, and other pregnancy losses. It would have given her and others in the congregation who have also experienced abortion, a “deeper and spiritual healing experience.”  With this in mind, “The Silent No More Awareness Campaign,” established prayers and preaching aids for Houses of Worship to share the message of hope and healing. 

The abortions that Ashley went through had devastating effects and caused infertility, and left physical and emotional scars. This is the kind of damage that abortion can cause. There is more than one victim, the innocent baby, there is the mother and father. For Ashley, there was a light in the darkness, a gentle, welcoming, and understanding voice.

Rachel’s Vineyard is a pro-life organization that offers relief and healing, and conducts retreats for women who have had abortions. Its fundamental belief and guiding principle reads, “Rachel’s Vineyard is a safe place to renew, rebuild, and redeem hearts broken by abortion. Weekend retreats offer you a supportive, confidential, and non-judgmental environment where women and men can express, release, and reconcile painful post-abortive emotions to begin the process of restoration, renewal, and healing.” 

Rarely are the fathers mentioned in the abortion debate and the decision to end life. It’s as though they had nothing to do with the life in the womb. Rachel’s Vineyard, however, includes the other person involved, the man and father, and extends its support, “We express a warm welcome to those men who have been involved in any way with abortion. We hope the information will help you to begin to make sense of your experience and assist you in your journey to healing.” 

Ashley’s story is just one of many that most of us rarely hear about. Mothers and fathers, who may be suffering in silence, and in need of support and forgiveness, can find relief at pro-life organizations like Rachel’s Vineyard. Let us not forget these noble and providential safe havens for troubled souls are the same entities that have been attacked, damaged, and fire-bombed by far-left abortion radicals. The Biden administration looked the other way, and its Department of Justice did the same.