Rape survivor: ‘My daughter did not deserve to die for her father’s crimes’

A rape survivor in the US who chose life for her daughter has shared how the “trauma of rape will never be undone by adding the trauma of abortion”.

In an interview with Students for Life of America, Angela Harders reflected how she was so overwhelmed with “fear” at becoming pregnant that she contacted Planned Parenthood for an abortion, even though it contradicted her Christian beliefs.

But when she phoned a pro-life pregnancy centre, she felt supported to choose life as she was helped to understand that “God had a plan and a purpose” for everything she had been through.

‘Healing’

When Angela told Planned Parenthood to cancel her appointment, an advisor claimed: “We can take care of this problem for you and no-one would ever have to know.”

But she ended the call, responding: “I would know and God would know, and that’s enough for me.”

Angela said that her daughter, who is now ten years old, was “a huge part of my healing. God gave me life out of a situation that I thought would be the death of me. My daughter did not deserve to die for the crimes of her biological father.”

She stated: “I know many women who have chosen life, even after rape, and not a single one regrets that choice. And I know many women, who have chosen abortion, and they live with the regret of that choice every single day for the rest of their lives.”

Abortion survivor

As part of its Almost Aborted series, Students for Life also spoke to abortion survivors about their stories.

Melissa, who was adopted after she was born alive, learned that her biological mother was told “I had died that day at the hospital. She had no idea I was born alive.”

Describing the reunion, she said: “Our family was ripped apart by abortion and right there, God restored and redeemed so many broken pieces.”

Melissa, who is now a pro-life campaigner, added: “Abortion is destroying our families, but it doesn’t have to be that way.”