FIGHT ABORTION, PROTECT LIVES

Life is full of challenges; some of these challenges are brought about by one’s omission of what one ought to do and others come as a result of unforeseeable causes. 

One of our client, Joy (not real name) 18 years old  a senior five student got involved in an affair with a Boda-boda rider which resulted into her pregnancy. Faced with the possibility of being expelled from school and chased from home by her parents, Joy is seeing abortion as the only way to avoid these consequences. She came to me for counsel and I see it beneficial to share the proceedings of the process.

Many takes pregnancy of a school girl above the age of the one who can be called a minor as a result of an engagement in irresponsible sexual union  whose effect especially pregnancy and other consequences, such as the one Joy is envisioning can be foreseen; and that it is morally culpable though pardonable. 

I told her that abortion which she is thinking of as a way to avoid her parental wrath is the removal of the non-viable embryo or fetus from the mother’s womb by human intervention[1] and is classified under murder in Catholic moral theology;[2] would make her risk losing her life in the process of aborting or else she risks being barren after aborting leading to more harm than good. 

Beside this, I shared with her how abortion is condemned in Sacred Scriptures; that it is against the sixth commandment which demands respect of life; that it is also against the basic Christian commandment which demands the love of God (Deuteronomy 6:5) and love of neighbor (Leviticus 19:18) modified by Christ’s call to us; "love one another as I have loved you" (John 15:32). I requested her to embrace this self-sacrificial love in loving the unborn she is carrying even if it means losing her parental care in order not to double the sin she has already committed. I proposed that she accepts the pregnancy, talk to her parents about it, or otherwise get a mediator to talk and apologize on her behalf to her parents for her to avoid taking abortion and suffer its severe consequences mentioned above.

Now, The World Health Organization statistics shows that 252 million women across the globe become pregnant each year of which 121 million are unintended leading to 73.3 million abortions,[3] attempts by the prolife movement to overcome this has led to meager results. The means that could be used  to curb this evil includes; evidence-based information about deaths, bareness and lost integrity which resulted from abortion. There can also be life skills training including critical thinking, communication and negotiation, self-development and decision-making, sense of self confidence, assertiveness, ability to take responsibility, ability to ask questions and seek help, and empathy. This would empower people to not only support each other but also to denounce all that can lead to abortion; Carrying out anti-abortion campaigns, fight against sexual violence and positive policing would reduce rates of unwanted pregnancies, encourage lawmakers to prioritize stricter laws against sexual violence, prosecute those involved in abortion, and imprison its criminals. These would discourage this immoral act and reduce abortion in long run.         

I see abortion  not only as a result but also as a symptom of our selfishness and failure to take care of one another. Thus, issues like poverty and lack of support from fathers that lead women to choose abortion, and assistance for teenage mothers must be encouraged not only in fighting abortion, but in promotion of good living for all.

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[1] Karl. H. Peschke, Christian Ethics (Vol II), Theological Publications in India, Bangalore 2016, p. 334.

[2] Catechism Of The Catholic Church, 2270.

[3] World Health Organization, “Abortion,” Available At:  https://www.who.int/newsroom/factsheets/detail/abortion.