Letter of the Day | Abortion lobbyists must stop excusing convenience

THE EDITOR, Sir:

In both local newspapers, West Rural St Andrew Member of Parliament Juliet Cuthbert-Flynn is carrying the torch to enlighten her colleagues in the house of Representatives to amend the Offences Against the Person Act in order to decriminalise abortion.

It's commendable that the honourable MP expresses empathy with her 20-year-old female constituent who lost her life from a botched abortion by some "backstreet operator". But is abortion really the cure? What about the preventative measures enlightened educators and social workers have been talking about all these years? Clearly, there seems to be 'no balm in Gilead', nor in Jamaica with the ABC forward-thinking approach promulgated years ago in our Western societies to tackle the HIV and AIDS scourge and unwanted pregnancy: abstinence; faithfulness; and condom usage.

Is it that our people are not critical thinkers to realise that there are consequences to our actions?

From my pastoral experiences both in Jamaica and in the Eastern Caribbean, my ministry has revealed to me that the 'abortion cure' is not that curative when the whole person (body, mind and soul/spirit) is taken into consideration.

One case in particular has left an indelible impression from as early as the mid-1970s. A woman, happily married with three children, was nonetheless severely traumatised with the absence of the fourth set of feet, the child she had aborted prior to her marriage. This trauma was as real as the trauma felt by those who were sexually assaulted or raped

The memory still lingers. Is that what we want for our women in Jamaica?

The non-critical advocacy for abortion is not the way to go, as if to say of the process: "A nuh nutten! Now I can go on with my life to achieve my dreams."

PROPOSED CURE

The proposed cure is a very costly one, and it contributes to the already intolerable culture of violence and death anchored in sheer individualism!

The Creator-God issue is yet to be factored into the equation, a matter that ought to be brought into play because of the God-conscious people that we claim to be.

As a people, we need to look more seriously and methodically at the prevention of unwanted pregnancies. As one columnist stated not too long ago, in reference to our moral behavior to situations that are challenging, "My response is my responsibility!"

People of sound character make responses. People of non-critical thinking major in reactions. Abortion is a reaction!

DONALD J . REECE

Acting Pastor

St Richard's Catholic Church