By Seminarian John Mikitish
On October 24th, 2014, St. Vladimir's seminarians and their spouses, together with a number of clergy and clergy-wife registrants from outside the seminary community, attended a seven-hour, multi-part presentation by Dr. Theresa Burke, Ph.D., LPC, NCP, the founder of Rachel's Vineyard ministries, an event sponsored by St. Vladimir's student-run pro life St. Ambrose Society. Dr. Burke's presentation, though focused on post-abortion trauma, touched on wide-ranging issues: the brain chemistry underlying trauma, the psychology of trauma victims, how men are affected by abortion, and the role of the clergy in healing, among others.
Through scientific and statistical analysis, as well as through personal stories garnered from a long career in post-abortion healing, Dr. Burke introduced students to some of the little-known negative consequences of abortion as well as to strategies that can facilitate healing, made possible in and through Christ. Will Rettig, one of the seminarians who elected to attend the entire seminar, commented, "The event offered a good deal of insight how those coping with the loss of a child in pregnancy, by abortion or otherwise, might be processing the ordeal. That such insight would be valuable to those engaged in Christian ministry is clear."
Rachel's Vineyard, now operating throughout the United States and in dozens of countries, is the world's oldest and largest ministry for post-abortion healing. More information about the sponsor, the St Ambrose Society, St. Vladimir's own student-run pro-life group, can be found on its website.
