‘Reclaiming Fatherhood’ conference to discuss fathers’ losses from abortion
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Chicago, Ill., Aug 13, 2008 / 04:54 pm (CNA).- The “Reclaiming Fatherhood” conference, a national gathering focusing upon the effects of abortion on men whose children have been aborted, is scheduled to take place near Chicago in Oak Brook, Illinois on Sept. 8 and 9. There, several therapists as well as several fathers who have lost children to abortion will discuss topics such as men’s healing after an abortion, abortion’s effects on men’s spirituality, and fatherhood and abortion.

The conference, co-sponsored by the Knights of Columbus and the Archdiocese of Chicago’s Office for Evangelization, is being organized by the Milwaukee-based National Office of Post-Abortion Reconciliation, which is headed by Vicki Thorn.

Thorn, who also founded the post-abortion ministry Project Rachel, said the conference aims to bring to light what she calls the “invisible” issue in society and the Church: the effect that abortion has on fathers whose children are aborted.

Supreme Knight Carl Anderson explained the reasons for Knights of Columbus’ involvement with the “Reclaiming Fatherhood” conference.

“As an organization of lay men that has a strong history and commitment to life, we think it is very important to highlight the issues faced by those fathers whose children are aborted,” Anderson said in a statement. “There are three victims of every abortion, the child and both of his or her parents, and it is our hope that this conference will be the beginning of a ministry within the Church to these fathers, who grieve the death of their unborn child in isolation and silence.”

Anderson and Thorn said the conference could help men deal with post-abortion trauma similar to the way Project Rachel has helped women who have had abortions deal with emotional and spiritual damage.

In 2007 the Knights of Columbus and the Archdiocese of San Francisco co-sponsored a similar conference, also organized by the National Office of Post-Abortion Reconciliation and Healing. The first U.S. conference of its kind dealing with the effects of abortion on men, more than 175 people from nine countries attended.

More information on the upcoming conference is available at www.kofc.org/abortion

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Subscriber comments:
Published by: Solomon
Illinois 09/08/2008 06:58 PM EST
Yes, the Knights of Columbus needs to reach out to divorced fathers and start working with them to support co-parenting and balanced parenting following divorce/separation. As it stands today, the default decision of most courts is to hand monopoly power of the children over to one parent, usually the mother. This provides that one parent with the freedom to nearly eliminate the other parent from having a meaningful parenting relationship. This frequently leads to great harm, even destruction, of the paternal bond with the children with a few years of divorce. There are a number of good Catholic fathers and K of C members who would be interested in supporting a shared parenting initiative.
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Published by: Joan L. Roccasalvo, C.S.J.
Bronx, NY 08/14/2008 03:49 PM EST
This conference on "the disappearing father" is long overdue. Congratulations for planning it! Next, the Church, perhaps beginning in Chicago, should plan a conference on the Trinity and the theology of the Father, His relationship with His Son, and their relationship with the Holy Spirit.
Today, use and understanding of the primordial name, Father, is fast disappearing.
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Published by: Daniel
Houston/TX/USA 08/14/2008 09:57 AM EST
This is a great effort but Fathers loose the right of paternity every day through 'no-fault' divorce in this country. The K of C needs to focus on this as well. The family is under direct attack but especially the fathers. Who is it that attacks the fathers and the family? The government itself through inimical legislation and activist judges and socialist policies that enable state paternalism. This all must be addressed and the subject of 'Catholic' divorce must be addressed and the the annulment crisis in the Church must also be addressed for to do otherwise is not in 'the best interests of the children'.
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