This is with reference to the letter titled ‘Child Abuse’ by Diomedes Pereira (Herald, August 23). I absolutely agree with him as far as the poor 10-year-old child, a victim of rape is concerned. In fact words cannot express what that poor child must have gone through and the lifelong scars this incident will leave upon her. The person who committed such a heinous and insensitive crime definitely needs to be severely punished but when we feel sorry for the 10-year-old it is also important that we must show concern, love and pity towards the little baby she has given birth to.
The Supreme Court has taken the right decision by denying the right to abortion. No doubt the Hon. Court will and should award a fitting punishment to the rapist, ensuring that he supports both the mother and child all their life but at the same time should also regulate and see that the newborn baby is taken care properly in a recognised adoption centre of repute until such time the 10-year-old outgrows the present trauma and achieves adulthood when she can decide if she wants her child or no as in the case of many other such victims who instinctively and naturally want their babies back after some years. The Hon. Court has saved the life of the baby and saved the 10-year-old of any guilt in future as abortion is one of the deadliest of sins as it amounts to murder, that too of an innocent unborn child. Those who support, recommend, practise and advocate abortions attract the curses of innocent unborn blood upon themselves and should bear in mind that it is nothing short of murder. The fifth commandment forbids us to kill for God made man in his own image. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that abortion is a grave moral evil because the act takes an innocent human life; human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception.
I recommend that one reads the life of Gianna Jessen – whose career as an activist began in 1991, when she was 14, after her adoptive mother, told her she was born to a 17-year-old girl, during a failed abortion attempt when they even attempted injecting saline solution into her brain. Jessen, now 40 years of age has since campaigned against abortion!
