Answer to violence: Respect for life

THE EDITOR: because of ASPIRE and its kind, for a baby to be in thewomb of its mother is distinctly hazardous to its health and life, even though it is in the only place in the whole wide world where it can be. The abortionists’ efforts, legal or illegal, frustrate the best intentions of Nature who has prepared the womb as a safe haven. While sadly deploring their ignorance, one might excuse the ignorant who genuinely have good intentions. But it is my contention that ASPIRE is not ignorant of the evil of what it is proposing. There is no other way to explain their efforts to hide behind double-speak. In order to gain acceptance and promote their murderous agenda, the Communists of old used that technique, viz claiming to be exactly the opposite of what they were. If you tell a lie often enough, you eventually come to believe it yourself! Communism failed. It was against man’s nature. So too will any society that seeks to dash its foot against the stone of basic human integrity and respect for life.

In the modern version of double-speak, ASPIRE shouts (literally, by the way, as anyone who tries to debate with them finds out!) “We want to have abortion legalised — and that makes us pro-life!” Please!! Or again: “The Pro-life movement favours abortion!” Can you believe that?! Shades of George Orwell. Or when they present Sheila Briggs to the public as a “Catholic theologian.” Its double-speak only betrays ASPIRE’s awareness of the crassness in its approach, and makes it obvious that its proponents take us for morons! The vicious double-speak, by the sheer weight of repetition, is designed to confuse the masses into acceptance of its programme, especially “the poor,” whose cause ASPIRE claims to espouse, but whose babies it proposes to have killed, albeit legally and clinically, with an intent similar to those who preferred electrocution to hanging in the execution of criminals.

Nature itself is outraged by the crime of abortion, whether it be legal or illegal. And we Trinis must stand beside Nature in its outrage. That is the only way to true liberation. If we are to make any inroads into the violence of our society, it must start with respect for Life itself, and we must take our lead from nature, who has so wonderfully provided for the safety of the young and defenceless — in the womb of its mother. We look to the Government to protect us and our unborn children. We look to our Government to stand proud amongst the Nations of the World, and tell the IMF and whoever else where to get off if they wish to link their aid to population control through abortion. We expect our Government to repudiate the tainted efforts of international agencies who seek to coerce us with their money into immoral attitudes and policies. I am reminded of St Peter’s words to Simon the Magician: “May your money perish with you!” (Acts 8:20). We stand by our Government who, in the face of powerful international and vested interests, has the courage to declare “This Government is Pro-Life” (Prime Minister Manning, Friday August 9) — as distinct from ASPIRE’s “Pro-Choice.” We too say No! to the legalisation of abortion. Let us instead use our resources to encourage the practice of chastity, and to provide humane assistance to mothers and babies alike who need it at a time when they need it most.

FR GERARD E FARFAN
Port-of-Spain