Letter to the Editor, Posted: 6/16/04
To the editor:
Actress Jennifer OíNeill is one of the millions of living victims of abortion, women who made the wrong choice to abort their babies. For many years she suffered in silence, unable to forgive herself. But now OíNeill has found peace by publicly witnessing about abortion.
ìMy life on the outside looked good, I had fame, fortune and a career.î OíNeill said. ìBut inside of me there was a hole in my heart.î OíNeill had an abortion when she was 20, already a mother of one and a well-known actress and model. ìI wanted the baby,î OíNeill admitted, ìBut I was emotionally weak.î The unborn babyís father was angry that she was pregnant and even threatened her. Her parents and doctor also encouraged her to have an abortion.
ìEveryone said it wasnít a baby. There were no ultrasounds then. I felt coerced, but I know I am responsible for what happened. I felt such self-loathing and disappointment,î OíNeill said. ìWomen who regret their abortions suffer a much greater incidence of depression, drug and alcohol abuse, inability to have healthy relationships and even suicide,î
In 2002 OíNeill wrote her latest autobiography, ìFrom Fallen to Forgiven,î and then began to speak publicly about her experiences.
Her ministry to other women can be seen in her involvement with ìSilent No More,î a nondenominational, nonpolitical group that encourages women who regret their abortions to find help, hope and healing, according to OíNeill.
ìThese women can see the healing God has offered to each and every one of us. God is healing and love,î OíNeill said.
To contact Silent No More or for more information, call Silent No More at (651) 254-9802 or www.snmm.org.
Jim Pavlicek
Chisago City
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