Despite the common pro-abortion narrative that pro-life politicians lack the experience with unplanned pregnancy and abortion necessary to legislate abortion, on Friday the wife of a Michigan Republican lawmaker revealed that she had an abortion as a teenager.
“I desperately wish that I had the courage as a teenage girl to accept and welcome my child into this world,” Stephanie Chatfield, wife of pro-life State Representative Lee Chatfield, writes. “I wish that I had the same amount of courage that it’s taking me to share my story now. But I didn’t, and I made a decision that I’ve thought about and regretted nearly every day since. It’s haunted me.”
Chatfield describes discovering she was pregnant after making the “poor decision to attend a party one night” and waking up with no memory of most of the night. “It was my easy way out, but little did I know that I would be stricken with an unbearable guilt for the months and even years to follow,” she says of her abortion one week later.
However, she goes on to describe the forgiveness she found by confiding in her family and turning to her faith, and declare that she hopes her story will “help girls, love others and serve as a living testimony of God’s grace and forgiveness.”
Chatfield tells girls and women facing unwanted pregnancies that crisis pregnancy centers stand waiting as an alternative to abortion and that “to those who’ve had abortions and might be battling with guilt, there’s forgiveness in Christ,” and urges pro-lifers to continue fighting abortion will also looking to help women in need.
Lee Chatfield prefaced the statement by affirming, “I am extremely proud of my wife for her courage.”
Mrs. Chatfield said she was revealing her story in part because an anonymous party had contacted her husband about a rumor and threatened to expose it. Rep. Chatfield’s Republican primary opponent Kathy Twardy and Democrat opponent Phil Bellfy have both denied involvement.
Rachel’s Vineyard and Silent No More Awareness are two of the most prominent organizations through which the pro-life movement helps women facing abortion guilt, regret, and depression.
