A 16-year old unmarried girl gets pregnant by her boyfriend, who promptly dumps her when he finds out about her condition. A poor mother of eight children, the eldest being only 10 years old, with a drunkard husband who beats her up, gets pregnant with their ninth child. A young lady victimized by rape and gets pregnant. A lady executive, on the verge of a promotion, who simply cannot get tied down right now lest her career nosedives, discovers she is expecting a child. A mother of two kids finds out that her contraceptive has failed, and has an unplanned pregnancy.

Everyday, everywhere in the Philippines, these stories are played out in the lives of young girls and women. Pregnancies, unwanted and untimed, happen. What are these women to do, what is their recourse?

Yes, very sadly, women are abused everyday. And it is good that there are groups in society who work with the survivors of gender-based violence. Our compassion for these women should be weighed against the true compassion of protecting the value of human life. This is the long-term view that must look to the common good. Yes, not having recourse to abortion or to “emergency contraception” (which in fact is also abortion) may seem harsh to the women who get pregnant as a result of abuse or misfortune. However, the weakening of the value of human life for the sake of a few -- even if this is for well-meaning intentions -- is not compassionate. The weakest, most defenseless members of our society -- the unborn children -- are coming under attack from all sides. Who is standing up for these little ones who have no voice?

Amazing Photo

Third Trimester in womb

Hand of a fetus that touched the world