Photo Credit: Lisa JohnstonBefore their discussion, students watched a video that gave verbal explanations of the different types of abortion procedures. Program coordinator Terry Trafton showed a model of a fetus to students at Mary Queen of Peace School. “That’s correct,” said Trafton, acknowledging that most women who have an abortion aren’t aware of those consequences. “She suffers from emotional, physical and spiritual pain,” said student Maggie Duffy. “Why does the mom suffer when she chooses abortion?” Terry asked. When a woman has an abortion, who suffers? Terry asked the students. Of course, for the students, the most exciting part of their lessons is handling the life-like fetal models of babies ranging from 12 weeks to 30 weeks gestation, which gives them a clearer understanding of the preciousness of life inside a mother’s womb. Students are effectively linking these topics as they gain a better understanding of what it means to be created in the image and likeness of God, said program coordinator Trafton. The program, which reaches about 2,000 students a year and receives support from the Annual Catholic Appeal, now falls under the auspices of the Office of Catholic Education and Formation. Photo Credit: Lisa JohnstonThat lesson was part of the Right START (Students Tackling Abortion Realities Today), a program initiated more than two decades ago by the archdiocesan Respect Life Apostolate to teach eighth graders about the sanctity of life and related topics, including chastity, fetal development and abortion. Mary Queen of Peace student Jordan Sadler held a model of a fetus as Kate Cooper smiled during a presentation of the Right START (Students Tackling Abortion Realities Today. “Twenty five percent of your peers are not here.” “This is a statistic that represents how we’re all victims” of abortion, Trafton said. The group standing represented a startling statistic: In the year they were born (2005-06), one in four pregnancies ended in abortion. Your class wouldn’t be as good, would it?” Is it different? Just think about all the gifts and talents and personality these people bring to class. Instructing one group to stand up at the front of the room, she told the rest of the students: “Imagine they were never born. As she walked around the classroom at Mary Queen of Peace School in Webster Groves, Terry Trafton counted off the eighth-graders by groups of four.
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February 2023
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