Getting Help to Men Hurting After Abortion

[Bradley Mattes is a founding member of the Men and Abortion Network. As Bradley shares in this important article, even if only a small percentage of men are impacted, there are millions of fathers who are experiencing psychological and spiritual distress after abortion and in need of help.

Bradley introduces an ongoing service of the Men and Abortion Network – one that we hope to expand – a nationwide network of trained peer counselors and pastors who can mentor hurting fathers through the grieving process. – Kevin Burke]

Getting Help to Men

By Bradley Mattes

Over the last decade-and-a-half, considerable advances have been made in generating awareness within the pro-life movement that men who have lost a child to abortion can, and do, suffer from emotional fallout.

The question people often ask is, “How many men are affected by abortion?”

The most comprehensive analysis of abortion’s effect on men is presented in a book entitled Men and Abortion: Lessons, Losses and Love by Arthur B. Shostak, Gary McLouth and Lynn Seng. Based upon information extrapolated from their data, approximately eight percent[1] of fathers who’ve lost a child to abortion suffer psychologically.

To date there have been 60 million abortions which has generated nearly five million “walking-wounded” fathers who struggle day-to-day with abortion’s lingering impact.

This is a conservative number due to many more men who are affected to lesser degrees. Abortion’s resultant carnage on men is unfathomable. For example, no research been done to confirm our suspicions that a vast number of men in America’s prison system may have a history of abortion which contributed to their incarceration.

The good news is that we have a grassroots, nationwide network of trained peer counselors and pastors who can mentor hurting fathers through the grieving process. The most effective way to do this is with a biblically-based program. However, we are ready, willing and able to assist men with no religious affiliation.

Additional good news is that several programs have been developed and are being used to transform grieving men into new creations through the blood of Christ.

These encouraging developments, however, present a challenge of how to match hurting fathers with the help they so desperately need. That too has made promising gains but remains a work in progress.

The Men and Abortion Network (MAN) is a small ad hoc group of men and women who individually or as an organization have experience on a national or international level of promoting healing and creating awareness regarding the issue of men who have experienced abortion loss.

Further, MAN has developed a website exclusively for men who have adverse symptoms resulting from abortion loss. The site primarily serves two purposes.

First, it provides a nationwide referral network for a man who is struggling after abortion. With no cost to him, he can request a trained mentor near his location. Credentialed counselors are also available.

If a man seeks anonymity, we can still assist him. All that is required is a city, state, zip code and email address. Additional information is helpful to provide the best support available, but it is not required. His privacy is paramount. If possible, we try to match him with a mentor from his same religious background.

Second, the men and abortion website provides a wealth of resources to assist fathers:

– New articles by MAN members are posted every month. A variety of Bible studies are available to walk with men through the grieving and healing process.

– Books, authored by experts in the field, give additional, in-depth information.

– Website visitors can also find brochures that summarize why men are affected, identify possible symptoms and share ways in which these symptoms can be treated.

– In addition, half-hour video and audio programming are available.

Research on men who have experienced abortion loss is limited, however, helpful data is posted on the website.

Is God Calling you to Serve as a Mentor to Men Hurting after Abortion?

Now our most pressing need is to expand the network of trained mentors and reach out to fathers who may be suffering.

The need is great, so if you or someone you know may be well-suited to assist this crucial work, please contact us here at the Men and Abortion Network if you feel God’s urging. We can provide the assistance and resources you need to be tools of the Holy Spirit.

It is an amazing thing to see the Holy Spirit at work through us as we witness the transformation of these dads. When you help a father, you impact an entire family.

[1] C.T. Coyle, Ph.D., Men and Abortion, A Path to Healing, 1999, p. 27.

Bradley Mattes is president of Life Issues Institute, the pro-life grassroots partner of the Susan B. Anthony List Education Fund. He is a founding member of MAN and has done considerable anecdotal research on the effects of abortion on men. His writings on this topic have been printed in US and international publications. He has a master’s degree in Biblical Studies and Biblical Counseling from Master’s International University of Divinity and has written undergraduate and post-graduate courses on men and abortion. He serves as a peer counselor to men who’ve lost a child to abortion.