Ruth Institute Podcast

On Hope After Silence, host Jerry Featherby welcomes Father Paul Sullins, senior research associate at the Ruth Institute and retired sociology professor, for an in-depth conversation on the long-term emotional effects of abortion. Drawing from his landmark study, Persistent Emotional Distress After Abortion in the United States, Father Sullins explains why emotional pain—including grief, regret, and trauma—often does not fade with time, even decades later. Together, Jerry and Father Sullins discuss why post-abortion distress is frequently underreported, how flawed research has minimized women's lived experiences, and why authentic healing requires truth, compassion, and faith-based support. The episode closes with a powerful message of hope, emphasizing God's mercy, forgiveness, and the possibility of deep healing after silence.