First U.S. conference on this issue features participants from 26 states and seven countries
Contact: Andrew Walther, Director of Media Relations, Knights of Columbus, 203-752-4253
SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 28 /Christian Newswire/ -- The Knights of Columbus and the Archdiocese of San Francisco are co-sponsoring the first national conference to focus on the effects of abortion on men whose children have been aborted in San Francisco on Nov. 28 and 29.
Featuring a panel of speakers from as far away as Poland, the "Reclaiming Fatherhood" conference will be held Nov. 28-29 at St. Mary's Cathedral in San Francisco. Two talks today (Nov. 28) may be of special interest: There will be a review of the research on this issue at 10:45 AM by Vincent Rue, PhD., and Catherine Coyle, PhD. followed by a presentation at 1 PM by Dr. Rue on trauma and abortion as it relates to men.
The Milwaukee-based Office of Post-Abortion Reconciliation, headed by Vicki Thorn, is organizing the conference, which seeks to bring to light what Thorn describes as the "invisible" issue in our society and even in the Church and the pro-life community of the profound effect that abortion has on fathers whose children are aborted.
"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," said Supreme Knight Carl Anderson.
"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."
Thorn has been working nationally -- primarily with women -- who have had abortions since 1984 through the Office of Post-Abortion Reconciliation and Project Rachel, the Catholic Church's post abortion healing ministry.
Experts from a variety of backgrounds and countries -- including several therapists -- will cover topics including men's healing process after abortion; abortion's effects on men's spirituality; fatherhood and abortion; and why men who have been involved in abortion come for help.
Anderson and Thorn believe the "Reclaiming Fatherhood" conference could help men deal with the psychological trauma of post-abortion reality the way Project Rachel -- the Catholic post-abortion healing ministry Thorn founded -- has helped women who have undergone abortions deal with their emotional and spiritual scars.
In April 2008, the Knights of Columbus are also sponsoring an international conference on the effects of abortion on parents, and the effects of divorce on children. That conference will be held in Rome -- co-sponsored by the Knights and the Rome session of the John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and the Family.
A schedule and the speakers' biographies are available at www.kofc.org
