The plight of the 31-year-old labourer who visited a doctor and was given Cytotec tablets to assist her in aborting her foetus, and will be reportedly facing charges for having an abortion, is indeed a sad and unfortunate affair.We totally agree with the opinion that abortion laws should not make criminals out of women already dealing with difficult situations.The only error, however, that we must respectfully bring to attention is a statement that may lead others down the wrong path: "although the woman was only three weeks pregnant, the report chose words like "baby" and even "child" to describe the foetus." The initial report is correct. When does human life begin?
Once fertilisation has taken place ovum and sperm no long exist, a new individual receives 23 chromosomes from each parent, a new unique individual has been created, never to be duplicated, their DNA has been established for life from that moment on. Any further formation of the person is purely a matter of development, growth and maturation.There are groups and associations willing to assist women and their unborn babies who find themselves "trapped" and don't know where or who to turn to. Two wrongs don't make a right. There is another option, and it is your right to be fully and honestly informed. From the moment of conception, a life is formed.
Dwight and Christine Gonsalves,
Teams of Our Lady