I was rather surprised that the press stated that Father Gregory, Father Ken and I walked out of Parliament recently. Boycott was another word used; another was that we staged a protest.

Minister of Health Rudyard Spencer, chairman of the Abortion Policy Review Committee was most gracious. After a half hour at 10:30 a.m. he approached me, "This is very disappointing. Only two of us are here." He referred to the Senate. "We might have to cancel or postpone your presen-tation to us."

This was the third time appointments were made. In the first two in November and December, we were told a day before that it was postponed. "Maybe early next year." February 5, at 10 a.m. we were there. I told Spencer it is appalling that a matter as serious as abortion was being taken so lightly. Of the 16 members of the Senate only two were present. He called up other members by phone. At 10:45, close to one hour late, three others came.

I stated to Spencer that I would not be able to be there for the following Thursday which he recommended for a new appointment. Fr Gregory and myself had to be overseas. I told him three times was enough. The next appointment had to be according to our schedule.

Late or absent

It is terribly hard for me to believe that this is the behaviour of our Senate, leaders of our nation, discussing matters of the gravest importance which could lead to a legalisation of abortion. What of other issues? Is this their attitude? I understand it is so: late or absent.

I am not sure how one can legalise abortion. How can you kill the baby in your womb? How can doctors proclaim and promote it? Money. Or maybe a false sense of compassion.

Maybe they rationalise that it is not a baby. Maybe they believe they are doing good. To continue my belief that all human persons are basically good, I have to believe they mean well, but they have fooled themselves.

Jamaica is throwing away its people. Missionaries of the Poor has taken in thousands of homeless and destitute people from the streets. There are hundreds and even thousands of unwanted children, cripples, the blind, the deaf, the mute, HIV positive kids, beaten and battered women. There are the elderly abandoned by the young and the strong, by their family members, and former employers. These we take in, and house them with food and clothing, and enfold them in our arms with Christ's love.

Abortion is an act which destroys one of the most poignant of human experiences - a child living trustingly in the womb of its mother: feeding, breathing, and even playing within the womb. I cannot imagine an act more cruel than to destroy the very life of one who is our own flesh and is so intimately connected to its mother.

There is no greater human intimacy, no greater love and inter-human communication than that of a child in its womb, with its mother. There is no greater moment of joy, no greater sense of mystery, than the experience of growth of the child within the womb. Also there is no greater sign of hope for renewal for anyone than the child just emerged from the womb of the mother. Pity the day we hate the child of our womb.

The United States serves as a shocking example of the massive swell in the abortion rate after legalisation:

In 1972, prior to legalisation it is estimated that there were around 100,000 illegal abortions in the United States.

In 1973, the first year of legalisation, there were 744,600 legal abortions.

This number rose to 898,600 the next year.

From 1975 onward the number rose to 1 million until 1980 when the number surpassed 1.5 million and stayed that high for the entire decade of the '80s;

The number peaked at 1.6 million abortions in 1990 and has slowly receded to a steady 1.3 million babies aborted per year to the present.

Now Jamaica is driven by the wealthy international moneyed world and supposedly to save our poor country with loans, and family planning purposes. But what is the price?

The Very Rev Fr Richard Ho Lung, is founder and superior general of Missionaries of the Poor. Feedback may be sent to columns@gleanerjm.com.