Charities provide alternative to abortion

~~Adz:Right~~ KINGSTON, Jamaica - PREGNANT women in Jamaica who may feel that abortion is the only solution to their situation are being offered an alternative by two local charities that are closely linked to the Roman Catholic Church.

The Missionaries of the Poor, which is led by Father Richard Ho Lung, and the Father Gregory Ramkissoon-led Mustard Seed Communities are pleading with women not to terminate their pregnancies. They have offered to provide assistance, to those who are in need, with the raising of their babies as well as assistance in the rebuilding of their lives.

According to the Jamaica Observer, both charities are in the process of establishing all-inclusive antenatal facilities for women who are genuinely in need of help and who may see abortion as their only option. While it was not immediately clear how the process would work, the Catholic priests said they would not be turning away needy women once the facilities were up and running.

Father Ho-Lung was quoted as saying, “Anyone at all who is pregnant and in a state of panic would be most welcome to come and visit us. We will have counselling, we will have ultrasound and we will have a day-care centre so that mothers - when they have their children - can leave them off; and also the very mothers themselves will be able to get some help.”

The priest informed that he has secured a building at National Heroes’ Circle, Kingston for expressed purpose, but it requires “extensive repairs” if service is to be offered from there.

In providing an explanation for the venture, Father Ho Lung explained, “A lot of time we have found mothers wanting to abort because of the fact that they are panicking that they will lose their jobs (and) that the baby fathers are not very responsible, and they don't know what to do.

“A plan has been done for the building, and another one is expected to be completed by next May, after which work was expected to begin. The cost for running the facility, which will be called 'Holy Innocence', will be absorbed by Missionaries of the Poor, which over the years has depended on agencies and individuals to assist in their outreach projects.”

Ho Lung said he views abortion as murder and he hopes that the project would be supported by Jamaicans, thus reducing the incidences of abortions.

Father Ramkissoon is currently constructing a Montego Bay shelter which should complement the Mary’s Child Shelter in Kingston.