John and I were married in 1977, and I had my abortion that same year. Weeks after our marriage, my pregnancy was confirmed. My husband was focused on his plans for college and career, and children did not fit into that plan. I had professed my pro-choice feminist beliefs, and now as we saw it, I was called to live up to them. In my gut, I knew the abortion was not what I wanted, but I went through with it out of fear of losing him. Instead, we lost our child. My abortion took place in a military hospital. I never wanted to go through another abortion. Mistake after mistake, sin upon sin, I insisted that my husband be sterilized.
I found fault with everything, and our marriage suffered. Then ten years later, we adopted our daughter, and our merciful Father used this to begin my heart’s healing process. We came back to the Church, and it was like springtime after a seemingly endless winter. How beautiful to see the truth after being in such darkness!
I have been actively pro-life for nearly twenty years. Yet, I held back the testimony of my abortion from all but a few. So after telling our children, finally I have the freedom to stand here today and say that I am Silent No More!