"Rachel mourns her children, she refuses to be consoled because her children are no more. Thus says the Lord: Cease your cries of mourning. Wipe the tears from your eyes. The sorrow you have shown shall have its reward. There is hope for your future."
— Jeremiah 31:15-17

Project Rachel

January 22 marks the anniversary of the United States Supreme Court's decision in the landmark case, Roe vs. Wade. One out of every four women in the United States has had an abortion. Many of these women find living with the memory of what they have done very difficult. They suffer, oftentimes feeling separated from God, their families and even themselves.

Your gifts to the Catholic Services Appeal allow our local Church to help women, and men, who have been touched by the tragedy of abortion. Project Rachel, a confidential healing ministry, provides help, support and the compassion of Christ through the Church to help these individuals come to terms with their loss, guilt, anxiety, depression and loneliness that are common following an abortion. The ministry also offers the opportunity for reconciliation.

Project Rachel is a confidential healing ministry for the many people, both men and women, who have been touched by an abortion experience. The purpose of Project Rachel is post-abortion reconciliation and healing for the other victims of abortion. The woman who has had an abortion, the person who at one time, provided the abortion, the man who may have forced a daughter, spouse or girlfriend to have an abortion, the potential grandparents, brothers and sisters and all who have been denied the opportunity of a relationship. All of these people need the help, support and compassion of Christ through the Church to deal with the grief, anger and sense of responsibility for a great loss.

Common symptoms of Post-Abortion Stress are:

• sense of loss
• a feeling of guilt
• loneliness/alienation
• anxiety
• depression
• sleep disturbances
• separation from God, self, and family

Project Life

"I stand ready to process whatever resources are necessary: personnel, educational materials and financial resources - basically whatever it takes, to respond personally and directly to any woman considering an abortion, to respond personally and directly to any person considering the so-called option of physician assisted suicide." ~Adam Cardinal Maida

Project Life of the Archdiocese of Detroit lends a helping hand to those who feel forced by whatever problems or pressures they face to choose abortion or assisted suicide. Please call the Project Life help line at (800) 281-2102. All calls are confidential.

Every human being has worth and dignity - from conception to the last natural breath. Life itself is a gift from God and thus we do not have the right to diminish or take it away. The gift of life is ours from God and it is to be nourished and utilized to the fullest, not merely for individual purpose, but for the benefit of all humankind.

In support of life in all its stages, Project Life coordinates the resources of the Archdiocese of Detroit, in partnership with Catholic Social Services, health care service organizations, parish communities and archdiocesan offices.

Adoption is an Option

" Protecting and reserving the life of the unborn is the first step in "Respect Life." Carrying a baby to term and giving birth is an incredible act of Love, Courage and Respect for Life. Giving the child the life he/she deserves is the next step. Are you facing an unplanned pregnancy? Would your life situation make it difficult to give your child the life he/she deserves?

Most adoptions are now "open" which means the birth parents not only choose the family for their child, they also choose the kind of relationships they will have with their child and adoptive parents. Through letters, pictures, videos or visits, the birth parents can see their child growing up and do not have to wonder what has happened. Birth parents can feel assured that their baby is loved, cherished, secure and well cared for by their adoptive family.

Catholic Services provides counseling, parenting and adoption services for women, men and families in crisis. They are available to counsel women (and their partner or family) examine their options in a non-threatening setting and to arrive at a life-giving plan for their baby.

For more information or help, call Catholic Services at 586-416-2300 or toll free 1-888-4-BABY DUE or visit the web at www.csmacomb.org.

Right to Life of Michigan

Right to Life Central Macomb

• (586) 416-1064
  

Compassion Pregnancy (Clinton Twp.)

• (586) 783-2229

Birthright of Macomb (Utica)

• (586) 254-5930

Abigayle Ministries (Sterling Heights)

• (586) 323-1411

Adoption Services

• (586) 416-2300
• (248) 414-4080

Post Abortion Help

• (888) 722-4355

For more information visit http://www.rtl.org/index.html.

Respect Life Sunday

In a world crowded with billions of suffering people, it is sadly simple to dismiss the helpless cries of the unborn. It's easy to brush God's concern aside, believing Him too busy, too concerned with larger issues to care for tiny delicate creatures swimming in their mother's womb.

Yet in Jeremiah we read "Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you." If we apply these words to ourselves, the image is almost overwhelming. Think of God, eons ago, contemplating you, seeing you from all possible angles, analyzing the best time for you to appear on the earth so that you would meet people to love and impact for Him. See God looking carefully as He chose your parents, knowing how you'd look at 5 and 15 and 50. Imagine His smile as you were ushered squalling into that first day of life, as He pictured the treasure you would become.

When we let these pictures become truth to us, each unborn child is recognized as infinitely precious, a friend of the Almighty even before their first breath is drawn. The question is not "why care?" but how can we not?

©2004 C L Enterprises, October 2, 2005