Valentino Fernandes
The secular western media always reacts with the familiar reservations, if not scorn, whenever Pope Francis or any other pope, issues any declaration involving any moral issue involving his flock. So it was not amazing how the media reacted following the Pontiff’s recent gesture, giving the priest the permanent right to pardon any and all cases of abortion and which right previously rested with the higher clergy. Besides, as of now the US media is still coming to grips over the President-elect Donald Truman, a pro-life advocate’s threat, to reverse the US Supreme Court’s Roe vs Wade judgement of over three decades ago which legalised abortion nationwide.
Traditionally, the Indian English media has been re-echoing the West’s approach to contraception, and that firmly favored abortion under all circumstances unless the mother’s life is at stake. To cite an example, recently, a leading English national daily referred to the abortion controversy raging in the US. A recent feature was compiled from all agencies, and titled “Could the right to abortion be in jeopardy under the ‘pro-life’ Trump. It referred to Truman’s pledge to appoint Justices, and who potentially would be open to weakening or reversing the US landmark Roe vs Wade judgment.
However, the same journal’s reaction to Pope Francis dictat was stronger. One of its recent number third edit was titled Pro-Compassion. To be sure, the edit ran, abortion is still a “grave sin” for the church, as its critics have been quick to point out. However, the idea of mercy — the Pope’s favorite religious metaphor– has now tempered one of his church’s most contentious doctrines’. In the edit, the editor mentioned that Pope Francis has not changed church dogma on abortion, and that he has only signalled women who make the choice should deserve empathy. Still, the edit re-echoed the fears about the possible reversal of the Roe vs Wade judgement, and which would render abortion illegal.
In the western scheme of things, there is not the least empathy for the child in the womb consciously, facing the surgeon’s pair of scissors. In the Indian context abortion is considered legal and no questions asked. Besides, the criminal act bears a convenient name: Medically-terminated pregnancy. Seemingly, besides Church organisations, there is hardly any public awareness created on dangers of abortion, particularly that caused to the mother.
However, the Christian pro-life groups in India, are busily engaged in creating awareness and public discourse on the subject of abortion, through different avenues like journals, videos etc. Mother Theresa, who always took up the cause of the unborn child, worldwide, ran homes for the mothers with a child, who needed protection and also ran centres to handle the clinical depression suffered by those who underwent abortion, often due to societal pressures. There is an interesting story that once when Hillary Clinton, a pro-abortion supporter, confronted the Mother with the issue why there is still no lady president? She wittily replied. “Perhaps the potential lady president has already been killed in the womb”.
The pope’s diktat deserves a great deal of attention and public discourse, rather than taking the simplistic view that it will encourage the women to indulge freely in the grave act.
