Will legalising abortion really upgrade the quality of health care for women? What happens to the woman who rids herself of that baby, especially the poor, who will be there for her, after the fact? Who will advise her on the physical and psychological consequences? Oh, yes, the wealthy can go and pay for counsellors, but how about the poor women?

In my experience, the pain and loss don’t show themselves immediately, but many years later. Instead of putting money into abortion clinics, how about starting with education to upgrade the women of Jamaica and, yes, the men too!

I am Sister Jo Anna Belmonte of Missionaries of the Poor. I, along with other sisters from Jamaica and all over the world, have been given a mission by God, through the voice of Father Richard Ho Lung, to preserve life. Life from conception to natural death. We don’t pretend to be heroes, we will leave that in God’s hands.

Father Richard Ho Lung started a female version of Missionaries of the Poor in March 2011 to combat the abortion issue. We have a home, Holy Innocent, at Heroes’ Circle, Kingston, where pregnant women in crisis come to live with us. Any woman who is pregnant and thinking of aborting or living on the streets, we take in and care, support, guide her. We also offer free ultrasounds on Wednesday afternoons to any pregnant woman, allowing her to hear and see her unborn child.

My clear understanding is that as soon as fertilisation occurs, a human being exists with its own DNA. I am always left wondering, how in a wanted pregnancy, we say “Oh! How are mama and baby doing?” Yet for an unwanted pregnancy it is no longer a human being, but just a blob! If what the woman has in her belly is not human, then why are there do’s and don’ts to bringing a healthy baby into the world?

Since the conception of Holy Innocent, we Missionaries of the Poor sisters have been there for over 500 women. We have housed them, or mentored them, prayed with them, counselled them. We have also reached out to many or mentored them through e-mail and phone calls. We have also tried to help those who have had abortions but feel the pain and loss and are seeking understanding, forgiveness and another chance at accepting the wonder and mystery of motherhood.

My sisters and I denounce the killing of any life, innocent and unborn, even those who are mentally and physically disabled. It is God who gives life, and only He who calls back life into His loving and merciful hands.

If you know of someone pregnant and needing help, please call us: Holy Innocent Center, 13-15 Heroes’ Circle, 967-1530/948-5775. God bless and protect us all.