Dear Editor,

It is quite unfortunate that there is need to convince some debaters and lawmakers to defend the beginning of human life. It is incontestable that all human life begins at the time of conception and takes form during the time of gestation in a mother’s womb. Therefore, it is disingenuous to use terms and descriptions that avoid acknowledging that a human life is being targeted to rationalise a basis and right to terminate a pregnancy.

Indeed, the life of those seeking to terminate a pregnancy at whatever stage of gestation in the womb had their personal existence transition those very stages. For all of us are sprung from the same origin and developed along the continuum when human life is most vulnerable.

Thanks be to God there existed circumstances that prevented the termination of the pregnancy of the debaters. For, truth be told, many of us were not conceived in the ideal circumstance that we consciously or unconsciously presume for ourselves while debating the right to terminate human life in the womb. The principle “one good turn deserves another” obliges us to safeguard the good fortune of our transition from conception to birth.

To argue that at the early stage of conception what exist is only a human person in potential is a diversion. The intention of an abortion is to eliminate that which is developing as a human person; not to eliminate what may not become a human person.

Instead of positing reasons for eliminating vulnerable human life during gestation, why not learn from experience and promote solutions to preventing the complications that make us resort to deadly choices when irresponsible sexual act initiates new life.

Instead of making a sacrifice to procure abortion, make a sacrifice to exercise sexual responsibility: If married, remain faithful to your spouse, do not abuse students and children, limit sexual partners, etc.

Instead of instincts determining licences for irresponsible sexual behaviour, let reason order responsible behaviour.

In the general scheme of the issue at hand, arguments referring to exceptional difficult pregnancies are in the minority for procuring abortion. Why legislate a general rule where behaviour change can limit the crisis.

Kenneth Richards

Archbishop of Kingston

bishopkdrichards@gmail.com