March 17, 2004

O’Neill shares Pro-life message

Ann Tassone
Contributing Writer

On Monday pro-life supporter and actress, Jennifer O’Neill, visited Xavier University’s Schiff Family Conference Center.  O’Neill, 54, spoke to a crowded room about the effects of abortion and its societal ramifications on women. 

This talk was sponsored by Xavier University’s Students For Life, Student Government Association, the Archdiocese of Cincinnati and Greater Cincinnati’s Right to Life. 

O’Neill was in her early 20s when she had her abortion.  At that point in her life, she was dealing with many difficult issues.  She had been modeling since the age of 15, married at the age of 17, and became a mother at the age of 19.  Because of her modeling career, she became an actress, starring in numerous movies, including the “Summer of ’42.” 

O’Neill became pregnant with her second child when her only other child, Aimee, was a toddler.  The father of her second child, to whom she was engaged at the time, was a different man than Aimee’s father.

When he found out O’Neill was pregnant, he encouraged her to get an abortion.  Jennifer says, “At that time in my life, I was so unstable, and a man who loved me was what gave me security.” 

She took the advice of her fiancé, and got an abortion.  At the time, O’Neill had no idea that she was preparing herself for a lifetime of uncertainty, heartache and regret.

Throughout her life, O’Neill was married eight times.  She has three children (Aimee, Reis and Cooper).  As a result of her abortion, O’Neill has suffered nine miscarriages.   

In the past five years, O’Neill has begun to speak out about her hard life, and her views on abortion have reversed.  She gives lectures across the country, and has written two books (“Surviving Myself” and “From Fallen to Forgiven”) with a third (“You Are Not Alone”) reaching bookshelves in 2005. 

Her books tell stories from her life, and touch on difficult issues such as teen suicide, abuse, self-esteem and abortion.  She is now the spokesperson for the national “Silent No More” awareness campaign, which supports pro-life movements across America.  In 2003, National Right to Life presented the “Proudly Pro-Life Award” to O’Neill for her work on spreading the message of the negative aspects of abortion. 

Additionally, she has found God in the midst of her struggles.  O’Neill has realized that God is all-forgiving and all-loving, and that even though she has committed a crime commonly understood as murder, God forgives her. 

When speaking to adults, O’Neill’s message is mostly about pro-life issues, but when speaking to high school students, her message is one of abstinence.
She encourages everyone to visit her Web site, www.jenniferoneill.com, and contact her with any questions, comments or concerns.