Kenya: Set Up Centres to Help Women in Crisis Pregnancy

Fr. Pascal Mwambi of Holy Ghost Cathedral, Mombasa, calls for help for women in crisis pregnancy who might seek abortion

When a law already exists in favor of an evil such as abortion, what we need to do is to try and vote for a lesser evil one if we can't do away with it completely. When politicians vote in Parliament, they not only need to listen to the voices of their supporters but also to their inner voice (conscience).
Africa 2007

Let us ask ourselves if a sin is a sin only if I am directly involved. I commit a sin even when I am in a position to stop it but I don't make an effort at all. If I advise somebody to procure an abortion I commit a sin; or when I support the person financially or even vote for a law in favor of it.

Women who carry pregnancies can have a lot of bitterness unlike men to what they call "unwanted pregnancies". Some situations are complicated such as rape, incest, etc. Most of these begin with unwanted sexual relationships and terminate in unwanted pregnancies. For instance, when a person uses contraceptive as a preventive measure and it fails to achieve the desired end, definitely the pregnancy would be unwanted, resulting to seeking refuge in abortion.

Surely, there are many parents who desire to have the aborted children as their own. If we can think of a centre where women with unwanted pregnancies could get some counseling we can save some innocent lives.

Unhealed wounds

Abortion can appear as an easy solution but with difficult aftermath. If priests or religious leaders could tell all about the repentant abortionists or women involved, we could realize that they feel guilty. But we are bound by the professional seal of confession on such matters. What I can say for the moment is that they have unhealed wounded hearts. Who knows if they will ever get another child of their own? My personal advice to them is that they assist with children who lack parental care.

Any person who is alive now, like me, including those who want to vote for pro-abortion laws, are existing because they were never aborted. We wonder why they cry to help innocent lives to be eliminated through what they call the right way to do it, "legal abortion". The word abortion stands on its own as murderous whether we add the adjective legal/illegal or clandestine/non-clandestine.

It is the duty of religious leaders to condemn any evil whether it has become so common or the daily bread.

We shall be judged if we failed to do this when we could. This not only involves verbal decisions but even practical issues like voting out leaders who support such laws against innocent lives. If anybody deserved such punishment at all, it could be the man or woman involved in the pregnancy.

When necessary measures have been taken against the spread of HIV/AIDS, these have mainly been preventive. Why can't we have the same preventive measures against abortion?

We call upon all mothers who are now pregnant and want to abort; all men who have impregnated them, and any advisers, any financial benefactors, and any abortionists to reflect deep in their hearts before making any move.

If they decide to make a step forward towards abortion let them know they have that courage, energy, breath from those who decided not to abort them.

I am sure there are many children born outside wedlock. Are we going to murder these who are now adults if we discover through DNA tests that they aren't ours? If mothers have the courage to keep secrets of children not born of their husbands, they can have even more courage to give birth to any other child rather than abort them.

If the women who do abortion are so courageous of their act before and after, let the "doctors" give them the tools or chemicals involved to procure abortion. These murderous tools can serve as a daily reminder (souvenirs) of the courageous act which law makers want to legalize.

For those already involved in abortion, the Church will always be ready to counsel them. Those who intended to do it are encouraged to seek not only medical advice but also spiritual assistance. Who knows this can and for sure change your mind? Unfortunately we only get the case after the child is buried (if lucky) or dumped.
It is not how old an offence has existed for it to be legalized. Even the possibility of it not ending in the near future (or never) can't be sufficient for us to approve it. Medics have a duty to defend life regardless of status or age. Could it be the package given (money) which encourages most practitioners to assist in abortion? If it cost only Kshs.1,000 one can imagine how many of them would bother to involve themselves.

When religious leaders react to moral issues, it is first of all because they are human beings who are affected. They also have as a primary duty to promote positive morality. If we cannot listen to the voice of the Church, how do we say they have failed to shape society and put the blame on their side?

After Herod was almost convinced and overpowered by the demands to released a thief and crucify the just, this is how he concluded, "May the blood of this man be upon you and your kinsmen." At the end of it all, whatever decision comes out of the debate, each individual just like Herod knows what is deep in his or her heart. Do I have a clear conscience or not?

source : allafrica.com