There is something very humbling about seeing your name in print next to these well formed, and informed Catholic writers. They actually printed my letter in the National Catholic Register!
It was in response to a letter by another individual that felt abortion and contraception should be included as part of womens health in foreign aid.
Fellow Canadian’s Chagrin
Keep up the good work. It was nice to see Canadian news included in the paper.
Responding to the letter submitted by Elena Shen of London, Ontario, in the March 14 edition. She was responding to the headline “Northern Fights” in the Feb. 28 print edition.
I was compelled to respond to this letter, as I was saddened by this response. I agree that abortion and contraception are opposed to women’s health and challenge those who think otherwise to research the effects that contraception and abortion have on the woman’s body, as well as her psychological well-being. Even if we eliminate the moral implications of contraception and abortion, it is still very clear that contraception and abortion only causes more harm. Pregnancy is not a disease; it is a natural process for women who engage in sexual activity. What is needed as part of women’s health is education on how the woman’s body provides fertile and infertile times within her cycle.
To claim that abortion can assist in improving children’s health is to say that murder is all right and should be legal if it means killing someone who makes my life more difficult. Murder is illegal in Canada when it involves a person outside the womb, yet murders still happen. Does this mean we should rethink this law and make it easier? What is a safe abortion? Abortion is murder.
Poverty is not the result of overpopulation; in fact, it is the result of corrupt governments. Many of us have forgotten that we are all responsible to care for others, the poor and marginalized, the sick and the dying. Offering contraception and abortion as part of women’s health, even to underdeveloped countries, is like offering a soiled tissue as a bandage to someone with a severed limb.
In my opinion, Harper’s government should be working to ensure Christian ideologies are part of their decision-making at home and abroad. This is not Harper’s theology; this is God’s.
Obviously, there is much more to say on this topic, especially if we include the moral implications and Church teaching on contraception and abortion. Instead, I’ll conclude with the words of Christ:
“The poor you will always have with you, but you do not always have me” (Matthew 26:11).
“And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me. But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea” (Matthew 18: 5-6).
Fatima Borges
