The Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum is holding its 15thannual International Bioethics Summer Course this week in Rome.
Father Frank Pavone, national director of Priests for Life, and Janet Morana, executive director, will teach a class at the course on “Healing the Shockwaves of Abortion.»
Healing the Shockwaves of Abortion is an initiative of the Silent No More Awareness Campaign that aims to raise awareness of all the different groups of people impacted by abortion.
“Every abortion is an explosive event in the lives of the mother and father and those closely connected to that decision,” said Father Pavone. “But the shockwaves deeply touch all those who are part of abortion decisions and procedures — grandparents, siblings, extended families, friends, pro-life advocates, and even abortion providers and clinic workers. The heartache and remorse felt by these people reaches deeply into our society — our schools, our health care and legal systems, our economy and our communities.”
Morana noted that this year, the theme of the bioethics course is “Family, Education and Society,” and the message of Shockwaves dovetails precisely with this focus.
“Abortion leaves an indelible mark on the family,” she said. “But what we try to do with Shockwaves is to show how healing is available for anyone who has taken part in or been impacted by the death of a child.”
Father Pavone added, “This really is a wound for the whole family and healing has to be for the whole family.”
The Shockwaves campaign was launched in January 2015 at the March for Life in Washington, D.C. For the first time ever, a former abortionist and former clinic workers marched alongside the women and men who chose abortion and later regretted it.
“Abortion is not an American anomaly,” Mrs. Morana said. “Children are being killed all over the world and their families and communities are being impacted. Our hope is that this international class of students will bring the message of Shockwaves home with them.”
Those who minister to individuals and families will gain insight into how abortion grief affects those with whom they work, Father Pavone said. “An awareness of the Shockwaves will help them in their ministry.»
