Dateline: February 7, 2001
Prolifers are delighted to welcome former abortion workers who join their ranks. But these wounded souls need time and love to heal. We need to nurture then, and remember not to treat them as trophies. Dr. Philip Ney has formed the Society of Centurions to allow former abortion workers to support one another and find the grace to heal and move on with their lives.
The Society's name is a reference to the Centurion in the Bible, who helped to crucify Christ. When Christ died, this soldier fell to his knees, dropped his sword, and cied, "Truly this was an innocent man." The Centurions have recognized the innocence of their unborn victims and dropped their weapons.
The Society of Centurions was formed originally to provide support to doctors in Eastern Europe, who had been required by the government to participate in abortion in order to keep their status as physicians. More recently, an American branch of the Society has formed, headed by former abortion nurse Joan Appleton.
Dr. Ney's work with abortionists springs from his work in helping others traumatized by abortion. Ney, a psychiatrist and child psychologist in Victoria, British Columbia, first noticed the traumatic impact of abortion from his work with children. Ney went on to do research and counseling for children whose siblings were aborted. He moved into counseling for women traumatized by their own abortions. Working with those traumatized by participating in abortion as workers seems a logical next step for Dr. Ney.
Father Frank Pavone of Priests for Life has been a strong supporter of the Society of Centurions. What the Society does for former abortion workers is critical, Pavone says. But equally important, he adds, is that it provides "a sign of hope" for people still trapped in the abortion industry. Appleton applauds Pavone's support, and calls for all clergy to become educated about the unique needs of traumatized abortion workers.
One problem Appleton found was finding a priest who took her sins as seriously as she did. She ended up seeking council from two Evangelical ministers, through whose help she was eventually able to return to the Catholic church.
Appleton says that "nine out of ten times, when someone decides to get out of the abortion industry, the first person he will go to is a member of the clergy. That member of the clergy can make or break that person at that particular time. Whether these people go on with the process of reconciliation, whether they succeed in their transition, is greatly dependent on that first encounter with the clergyman. So it is vitally important that the clergy understand what they are dealing with. And none of them—none of them—do. The biggest handicap we have faced in reaching those people who have gotten out of the business has been trying to get through, or get around, the clergymen who have claimed them as their own personal trophies, and forbidden them to make contact with us. That’s very, very frustrating, when you know that on the human level, you are the only one who can help them. That has been a very difficult thing," said Appleton.
Appleton, Ney, and Pavone all note that the prolife movement and clergy are ill-equipped to meet the needs of former abortion workers. The Society of Centurions provides the support and understanding that these wounded people need when they first walk away from abortion, and the long-term support they need to heal afterward.
The next Feature will look at some of the specific issues faced by former abortion industry workers.
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