A Liturgy for Women Preparing to Abort Their Babies

from Stand Firm by Matt Kennedy 

After reading David’s piece on the Interstate Sacrament of Abortion, I thought to myself, “Self, I’ll bet someone somewhere has ginned up a liturgy for women getting ready to kill their babies.” And sure enough, I was right. After a moment’s googling I found a ritual entitled, “A Liturgy For Seeking Wisdom” on the “Catholics” for Choicewebsite. It looks like it was published about 12 years ago. It features meditation, visualization, absorbing candle power, time for listening to the self, and what feminist liturgy would be complete without a hymn of praise to the goddess who is me: “i found god in myself, i found god in myself and I loved her fiercely, i loved her fiercely, i found god in myself.”
No telling how many times this thing has been used to soothe women into murdering their children. Read it and weep.

Liturgies for Responsible Reproduction
We sometimes forget the spiritual dimension of allimportant decisions and events in our lives. Women need spiritual support and affirmation as they make difficult choices about reproduction. The following liturgies celebrate women’s spirituality by affirming the integrity and holiness of their decisions. They can be used alone or shared with a partner, friends or family.Women may need encouragement to consider celebrating such a liturgy because traditional churches and society do not provide them.
Liturgy for Seeking Wisdom
Background
This liturgy will help a woman decide whether to bring her pregnancy to term or to have an abortion.
Centering
Play soothing instrumental music quietly in the background.
Candle Lighting
Light candle, absorb its power, pray.
Prayer:
Gracious and loving Holy Wisdom, fill me with wisdom that I may see clearly the choice that I need to make. Bless me and comfort me with your Spirit.
Visualization
See yourself walking on a path through the woods. You are walking into the future. At the end of this path see yourself in ten years if you decide to bring this pregnancy to term. (Pause for three minutes and listen to yourself).
Now begin again. (Pause fifteen seconds.)
See another path through the woods. Walk along this path. At the end of this path see yourself in ten years if you do not bring this pregnancy to term. (Pause for three minutes and experience what this is like.)
After you have visualized these two pathways, find a cozy room with a comfortable chair. Sit in this chair and think about what you have seen. (Pause for as long as you like.)
Reflection
Sit and watch the candle burn, write down your thoughts in a journal and/or share your insights.
Closing
Wisdom comes when we reflect on our life and make choices based on honesty and truth. Wisdom lives within us. Listen to her. Trust her. Talk to her whenever you need to. She is your friend.
Song
“i found god in myself” from for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf.
i found god in myself, i found god in myself
and I loved her fiercely, i loved her fiercely,
i found god in myself.
Blow out the candle when you are finished. Do something comforting, for example, drink a cup of tea or take a warm shower.

So, what do you do after the baby is dead? Well, there’s a liturgy for that too “A Liturgy of Affirmation for Making a Difficult Decision”, featuring this prayer:

Blessed are you, Holy One, for your presence with _______ (name of woman). Praised be you, Mother and Father God, that you have given your people the power of choice. We are saddened that the life circumstances of _______(woman’s name or, if appropriate, woman’s name and her partner’s name) are such that she has had to choose to terminate her pregnancy. Such a choice is never simple. It is filled with pain and hurt, with anger and questions, but also with integrity and strength. We rejoice in her attention to choice. Our beloved sister has made a very hard choice. We affirm her and support her in her decision. We promise to stand with her in her ongoing life. Blessed are you, Holy One, for your presence with her.

Do please pray for repentance and salvation for all women who have been subjected to this liturgy and do the same for the person who created and published this abomination.