Lasting Wounds O F Abortion

PITTSBURGH Established in 1844: America’s Oldest Cathol [ication C h u rc h TRACHEL responds to ‘b la ta n tly d is h o n e s t’ ads lasting wounds By JOHN FRANKO The Pennsylvania Catholic Conference has denounced televised advertisements aimed against Gov. Tom of abortion a Ridge's school choice propos al, saying the ads are mislead ing and false. The conference, which strongly supports the propos fcy RON CICHOWICZ Pittsburgh. al, accused public school “Through Project Rachel," teachers' unions o f trying to \ One woman thought that Becker said, "we hope to scare Pennsylvanians by abortion was “the unforgiv raise awareness of post falsely claiming school choice able sin." abortion trauma, and the will increase taxes. The unions Another, in a recovery pro need for prayer and reconcili are a major part of the "Coali gram for drug abuse, felt that ation for those who have tion Against Vouchers." many of her problems been touched by abortion The conference pointed out stemmed from her abortion. and are seeking to find A that the ads appear to be A third woman was experi ways to inner peace and ¿¡¡E aimed at senior citizens in an encing guilt because she spiritual healing after J attempt to divert public atten didn’t feel that she had done an abortion." tion from the real issues enough to prevent an abor Becker added that she was While any priest has the Involved in school choice tion in her farpily. outside their home commu- mechanism o f denial the "grateful for the marvelous ability to forgive the sin of legislation. These are just three exam nity if they desire. woman blocks the natural support given this problem abortion, several priests in Gov. Ridge ran on a plat ples of persons suffering “Make no mistake about grieving process over the by Bishop Donald Wuerl, a the diocese have had specific form to cut taxes and he sup from the effects of abortion, it," Becker said, “post- death o f her child and often support that has been ech training in counseling the ports choice legislation as a drawn from the personal abortion stress syndrome is denies her responsibility in oed by many other priests of victims of abortion as part of means to Improve education. experience of Marjorie Beck the diocese.” a very real affliction.” She the abortion, the Project Rachel effort, points out that back in 1987, This denial or suppres- The conference charged it is er, director of the diocesan "Without diminishing in Becker said. the American Psychiatric sion, Becker notes, affects “blatantly dishonest" for pub Department of Social any manner our defense of Becker encourages anyone lic school teachers' unions to Awareness. Association accepted the "in- the healing process and pre- the unborn, we want to offer who wishes to move from the claim school choice will And it was to counter such compassion and reconcilia tentional destruction of one's vents forgiveness for the brokenness of abortion unborn.child.”as. a "stressor,"», woman and.nthffy )i n ■ increase taxes, noting the experiences that Project tion to those who are suffer toward reconciliation to call an event outside the range of “We want to help women gW em orV tewdget includes Rachel, a post-abortion and ing because of an abortion Project Rachel's special num funds for school choice grants. reconciliation program origi experience." Bishop Wuerl usual human experience, and others victimized by ber — 456-3167. All calls are which causes post traumatic abortion to start on the path It lauded the proposed nally developed in Milwau said in support of Project confidential and callers can school choice legislation for kee, has been established in Rachel. stress disorder in women. $af healing and hope," she be put in touch with a priest Through the psychological said. "Please call.” H r Soo SCHOOL on pago 2 Mother chose twins’ lives over chemotherapy Your award-winning By ED LANGLOIS chances." Mrs. Barton and her hus Catholic news EUGENE, Ore. (CNS) — In band, Jeff, had been married January, Piper Shanks lost since 1982. They had a For the second consecutive year, the Pittsburgh Cath her best friend and in the daughter who was three olic has earned five honors in the annual Catholic Press process instantly became the years old at the time of the Association Journalism Awards — as well as recognition mother o f infant twins. cancer diagnosis. in the secular media’s Golden Quill Awards. Among dioc Barbara Barton, whom Doctors told Mrs. Barton esan newspapers, the Pittsburgh Catholic competes in a Mrs. Shanks had known her only chance of survival field o f hundreds from the United States and Canada, since junior high school, died would be Immediate and Of complications from leuke intensive chemotherapy and First place, best campaign in the pub mia Jan. 22. Both had a bone marrow transplant — lic interest “Building the City of God," a worked at Sacred Heart Gen procedures that would end special section explaining the diocesan eral Hospital in Eugene. the much-desired pregnancy. reorganization and revitalization, cited Mrs. Barton’s death came They also told her that if for its clarity and wealth o f information. sooner than it might have she decided to cany the Written by Patricia Bartos and James because she had delayed pregnancy to term, her McCoy. Designed by Regina Duckstein gggresslve cancer treatment chance of survival would be Selden. to save the lives of the twins nil and her death would $he was then carrying. probably come quickly. Third pioco, best editorial — national • Only days before she died, Mrs. Barton, raised a or ihtematlonal issue; "Faith and voting" Mrs. Barton said she wanted Lutheran, begged for advice by Mike Aquilina. Mrs. Shanks, a 37-year-old but no one would tell her mother of three boys, to care what to do. Sometimes she Third ploco, best column, culture: for the twins, who were bom would get angry at her hus “Buyers, Beware” by Phil Taylor, expos last July 13. McKenzie, a band, who was raised in a ing racist cartoons marketed as girl, and Hunter, a boy, are nondenominational Christian children’s videos. both healthy. tradition, wishing he would Z "It’s been a terrible, terri make the decision. CN S photo by Paul Naavat, Tts» Santtnal Honorable mention, general excellence ble time," Mrs. Shanks said “I hate headlines that say Piper Shanks keeps close her best fie n d ’s twins, Huivter and in a diocesan paper. 6f the entire episode, from ‘Mother Sacrifices Life,'” he McKervde Barton. Mrs. Shanks has been caring fo r the babies the diagnosis in fall 1993 to told the Catholic Sentinel, since their mother died from leukemia in January. Honorable mention , best use of art or the present time. “So many newspaper for the Archdio graphics: "Poet and pontiff." Design by difficulcdecisions.” cese o f Portland. Susan Mazur, text fay Mike Aquilina. 2 Mrs/ Barton’s decision to "It was a Catch-22. If she my life." other than dealing With her forgo aggressive cancer ther had aborted the twins and When the ultyasound .pic terminal illness. Goldon Quill (Inalisi, bast Matura: apy was, Mrs. Shanks said, lived, would she be able to tures of her womb revealed "It gave her something “Standing with doctors at the foot of the cross” by James McCoy. "a decision she made from live with herself? Would she twins, “Jeff arid some o f us besides the leukemia^ Mrs. the heart. When you're , faced always think "What if?' It was noticed fills new look in her Shanks said. “She just flour with deciding between your eyes. There was no a decision she made on her ished and glowed and looked The Pittsburgh Catholic also extends congratulations life or this tiny thing inside question,” said Mrs. Shanks. own and I supported her." : like a million bucks . | You to Pittsbuigh residents Susan Muto and Philip Klass, you. it seems insignificant While blood transfusions Mrs. Shanks added, “If I Wouldn't have known she who won CPA Awards for their work in spirituality and until it's further along. She had intervened (in) either and milder chemotherapy had a life-threatening illness. fiction, respectively. | was scared and she wasn’t direction, I know I’d be helped, Mrs, Barton reveled She was meant for that real optimistic about her haunted by that the rest of in having a task at hand Sm TWINS on pa go 2 Page 2 PITTSBURGH CATHOLIC Friday, June 9,1993 Dioceâan^ioàcfiùiews s f I '*■ '«¿afflSiIWBkw^BMc/ j g H s B 8 p 7 $JÈb* * • :jnffF ft Letter draws praise from other Christians Tw iiis live, thanks WASHINGTON (CNS) — difficulty for most other all of the churches automati hove begun cm, and that this Pope John Paul II’s encyclical Christians,“ and he apologized cally accepted that bishop in quest for full unity ambng calling for further steps in for times when the exercise of communion ... This was an Christians will, he is con to m om ’s heroism ecumenism brought words of papal authority brought pain essential part o f his primacy, vinced, succeed," said Father welcome from Christian lead to other Christians. to bring unity.” John *Hotchkin, executive ConttnuadFrom pogo 1 ers worldwide. Since the bishop of Rome In other reaction, the Rev. director of the Secretariat for think of Barb’s death in pregnancy.” Ut Unum Sint (That AU May must ensure the unity o f the Joan Brown Campbell, general Ecumenical and Interreligious the same way that I think Two weeks after giving B e One) “clearly demonstrates Church, his primacy must secretary of the National Affairs of the National Confer of the death of a child,” alstrong commitment to ecu include real power and Council of Churches, praised ence of Catholic Bishops.

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