In fertile soil, a seed did fall
and the gardener, unaware,
nourished the soil and helped it sprout
with accidental care.

And all the wisdom of the earth
was sealed around the hope
that the tiny seed would claim its right
and fulfil its given scope.

With nature’s blessing, the sprout did grow
but the gardener, alarmed,
plucked the sprout and threw it out
to leave the patch unharmed.

And in the soil, the flowers bloomed
and the seed’s life was reclaimed
but Earth and Sky forever mourned
the seedling plucked and never named.

Read more:
– Difficult Pregnancies And The Unavailability Of Abortion In Malta
– Save The One – Protecting Children Conceived In Rape

The post Abortion Regret Poem: The Flower That Never Was appeared first on Universe of Faith.

The Woman Struggling With Issues Of Mental Health

Dr Astrid distinguishes between her approach with a woman who is in a state of panic and another who has long standing mental disorders. She believes that when a woman is faced with an unplanned pregnancy, she is taken by storm. In these cases it is understandable that her initial reaction is one of rejection. Consequently, the mother can have the impulsion to do something drastic about the situation.

Dealing with the crisis 

Dr Astrid believes that, in such situations, the first thing to do is to go into a thorough discussion with the person in front of her. “My role is to help the couple or the mother to think clearly. Sometimes the mother just needs to see and reason things out by discussing the situation.  Most of the time, after one or more sessions, she realises that her initial reaction was rash. The mother realises that the situation is not so tragic after all.  I have seen many turning points happen when the mother sees the foetus on ultrasound. When the mother feels that there is a living creature within her she actually bonds.”

Dr Astrid continues: “In some cases it is necessary to engage the help of a psychologist for more support. The psychologist can help the mother decide which is the best way forward.  I work closely with several male and female psychologists who can help in this regard. If the mother chooses not to keep the baby, one can offer other options like adoption. One does all that one can to steer away from the decision to abort. I am happy to say that in my experience, besides all the women who after our discussions decided to keep their baby, about ten women decided to give the baby up for adoption. Unfortunately, at this stage, if the mother has decided not to continue with the pregnancy, she disappears,  and seeks help elsewhere to abort.”

Sometimes guilt drives a woman away from the decision to abort. Other women try to justify their decision to abort by convincing themselves that they cannot offer the child a decent life. My question is always ‘are you ready to kill your child instead of giving him/her a life with someone else?’

The Consequences of Aborting or Keeping a Pregnancy

Dr Astrid believes that if the mother is considering abortion, she must be made aware of the consequences. “The consequences of aborting are usually psychological. They are rarely medical.  However, online abortive pills, are unreliable and dangerous. They carry the risk of haemorrhage for the expectant mother.  On the other hand, should the mother decide to proceed with the pregnancy it is our duty to offer as much support as possible. This is an admirable decision to take. By keeping the pregnancy the mother may have chosen to take a much more difficult path.

In the cases of severe mental health disorders Dr Astrid explains that “even if the pregnancy can be turbulent especially if the mother is on particular medications. However, these women can still deliver a healthy child.

The Woman Whose Life Is In Danger

Dr Astrid confirms that the unavailability of abortion in Malta does not impinge in any way on the availability of optimal care for the pregnant mother. She confirms that direct abortion, the purposeful destruction of the preborn baby, is not medically necessary to save the life of the mother:  “It is always our top priority to do all that is medically possible to safeguard the mother.  Unfortunately, this is not always successful. However, we are rarely faced with situations where terminating the pregnancy increases the chances of survival for the mother.” With the excellent rate of survival for preterm babies in Malta, we can opt to deliver the baby as early as 26 weeks. Hence this reduces or completely removes, the risk of death for the mother.

There are other times when the death of the embryo is inevitable. This is the case with ectopic pregnancies, when the embryo implants outside the uterus, such as in the fallopian tube. In such pregnancies, the growing foetus would burst the tube. Hence the pregnancy would still be interrupted.  Intervening surgically, in these cases, saves the mother without changing the fate of the foetus.

The Woman Whose Baby Has A Foetal Abnormality Or Is A Still Born

Dr Astrid describes how parents are informed and supported when there is a prenatal diagnosis of a foetal abnormality.  “Parents who are expecting a child with abnormalities are made fully aware of the situation as soon as it is confirmed. Then one has to prepare for possible eventualities according to the prognosis. The likelihood of survival after birth is discussed.  Midwives in Malta offer a very sound support system for these parents. This support continues even after birth and includes psychological care.  Abortion is not offered as an option.

Dr Astrid adds that “although the diagnosis is made prenatally, sometimes it is difficult to predict the extent to which the condition will affect the foetus after birth. In other situations, it is clear and one would know exactly the impact on the wellbeing of the child.  Occasionally, there are cases that prove very difficult to manage.

One such case Dr Astrid describes was when an ultrasound performed at 20 weeks gestation showed the presence of a large haemorrhage in the brain of the foetus.  “The area of blood was so extensive; it was obscuring most of the brain.  The scans were sent to a centre in London for consultation.  The initial advice was to abort.  The parents refused. They also refused the suggestion to tap the brain to release the blood in utero.”

The scans were then sent to America for a second opinion. This centre had encountered three cases of an antenatal brain haemorrhage. Two of the three mothers had chosen to abort the baby. One mother had decided to continue the pregnancy. She experienced something unexpected.  The blood slowly started to resolve, and by birth, it had cleared up completely.

“The same happened to my clients’ baby. Their child was born perfectly healthy. ” 

Continuing a pregnancy when the baby is going to die or is stillborn

Some women don’t want to carry their baby to term if they know that the child is suffering from a condition that is not compatible with life after birth. “There are times when during the pregnancy we already know that the baby will probably die during or soon after birth.  In these situations, trying to deliver a foetus early can also have consequences on the mother’s health. So it is not advisable to intervene prematurely as this could affect the ability of that mother to bear other children in the future.

It is a very difficult situation for the parents and family. However, with adequate psychological support, the pregnancy can be continued and the chances of medical complications are reduced. Most parents also feel better with this process. They feel that the baby’s death was natural and in no way instigated. By letting the pregnancy proceed to a natural end, they feel that they were in no way a part of the destiny of this child. They feel that the death of their child was natural and not brought on by interventions in any way.

Dr Astrid explains how if babies are stillborn, the mother usually gets to know very close to the delivery or during the delivery itself.  This situation is very traumatic and requires a lot of compassion and support.  Midwives play an important role in these situations and can offer great support.

The Woman Who Believes She Has A Right To Choose Over Her Body

Living within a society carries with it obligations towards others. It includes taking responsibility for our actions. Dr Astrid questions those who believe that a woman has every right to do what she pleases with her pregnancy. She asks: “Why does the preborn child have to pay the price? Who is going to take responsibility for the termination? Who will be the advocate for this baby?

The embryo should be considered as human life from conception. Once a male and female cell come together and a foetus starts to form, interruption by medical or surgical means is nothing but murder. The healthy embryo, left in its own natural environment will live. It is when the embryo is removed from this place that it dies. The embryo is a particular living entity. It is not the same as having only a sperm which is also a living entity but can do nothing on its own. Without interruption, the embryo will grow into a baby. The foetus should be protected for this reason. A foetus is more vulnerable since it cannot protect itself. It is ironic that the foetus should be killed by the person who gave it life and who is supposed to protect it!!

She continues to explain how nature provides that, “once a mother is pregnant she has no choice but to deliver.  Whether the mother likes it or not, labour will start at some point. It cannot be helped. Her only choice would be how to deliver; vaginally or by caesarean section.

The Woman Whose Preborn Child Is The Result Of A Casual Relationship

Sometimes a woman finds it hard to accept the pregnancy because it is the fruit of a casual or an extra-marital relationship. Dr Astrid says: “In the case of a pregnancy following a casual or an extra-marital relationship, the first thing to establish is whether the mother intends to continue or stop this relationship.  If she intends to stop the relationship, the advice would be to come clean with her partner/husband and move forward with the pregnancy. This of course carries the risk of her partner/husband not accepting the situation. It may even lead to a break up in the relationship or marriage. Should the mother wish to stop her relationship with her partner it is also important to see the reaction of the baby’s father to the news of the pregnancy. The mother must be aware that she may end up completely alone and unsupported.”

“We are only there to guide and give advice.  It is up to the parents to make the final decisions on the course of action,” says Dr Astrid.

The Woman Who Has Been Raped

The trauma of unwanted intercourse, because of the lack of consent from the victim, can result in an unplanned pregnancy. This is not easy to accept. Dr Astrid says, “If a woman is sexually assaulted, she has the choice to take emergency contraception if there is the risk of her getting pregnant Yet, if emergency contraception is taken when the egg has already been fertilised, it can prevent the embryo from implanting in the uterus. Thus this terminates its life.”

If the woman does get pregnant she will need a lot of support to reach a decision not to abort the child. In these cases, it is even more difficult than if the relationship was consensual. The mother may experience strong feelings of rejection towards the child because of the way it was conceived.  

The Young Teen

Findings in a 2010 study revealed that 12.3% of pupils of school-leaving age in Malta, have practised sexual intercourse. Dr Astrid explains that teaching abstinence is to be encouraged for both the emotional and physical wellbeing of the teenager.

For the teenager who does not want to postpone sex till s/he is in a stable relationship or in marriage, it is important to offer other measures. One also needs to inform them about the risks and side effects. “Teenagers should be offered contraception in this case. The withdrawal method and the use of condoms are not reliable. Moreover, women who are sexually active outside steady relationships run the risk of acquiring sexually transmitted diseases. This can lead to chronic illness and even infertility. Unwanted pregnancies are more common too with unprotected sex.”

The Father’s Role During Pregnancy

Dr Astrid highlights the fact that the father’s role during the pregnancy is very important especially to support the mother. “The involvement of the husband/partner is very important. He may not always be available to attend all the prenatal visits but it is imperative that he supports the mother. The couple is also encouraged to attend preparation antenatal classes together. Certainly, the father is encouraged to be present during childbirth.  

Advocating For The Preborn Child

Some argue that although abortion is illegal in Malta some mothers will still go abroad or underground to do it. So why not make it accessible, safe and legal in Malta in the first place?

Dr Astrid replies that: “Most (if not all) gynaecologists in Malta have reservations and do not want to participate in abortions. When the mother needs to go abroad for an abortion, there is a delay, and that gives her time to rethink. Going abroad may also be a deterrent. The embryo is a living human with rights which are to be respected.”

“There is no such thing as a “subhuman human: a human being/organism with subhuman moral status. Human status is not something one “earns by reaching some arbitrary level of functional ability. ” This is also why many centres around the world are moving away from embryo freezing and going for oocyte freezing. Vitrification is a method that gives the same results without the ethical implications of having spare embryos. It also avoids the risk of embryos being treated as property if the couple separates.

Pope Francis On Women’s Needs And Rights

As a society, we rarely challenge the causes of so much pain in the life and in the heart of women. Men also need to face their responsibilities. In his recent letter Christ Is Alive, Pope Francis states that the Church needs to be “attentive to the legitimate claims of those women who seek greater justice and equality,” The letter acknowledges “a fair share of male authoritarianism, domination, various forms of enslavement, abuse and sexist violence.” Pope Francis speaks of a Church who “can support the call to respect women’s rights, and offer convincing support for greater reciprocity between males and females, while not agreeing with everything some feminist groups propose.”

Pope Francis also renews the Church’s commitment “against all discrimination and violence on sexual grounds” (Par 41). In his 2016 visit to Poland Pope Francis said that “it is the responsibility of the State, the Church and society to accompany and concretely help all those who find themselves in serious difficulty, so that a child will never be seen as a burden but as a gift, and those who are most vulnerable and poor will not be abandoned.”

Read more:
– Feeling Insecure – Love As The Greatest Security
– “I Lived And Worked In Malta” – The Story Of A Generous Landlord And A TCN

The post The Unavailability of Abortion in Malta & Difficult Pregnancies – A Gynae’s Perspective appeared first on Universe of Faith.

Infertility Story 1: Marco Cremona , Journey From In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) To Adoption
“Our decision to adopt was very fruitful”

My wife and I met when we were in our mid-thirties. After living together for some years, we decided that we would like to have children. However, it transpired that there were some medical complications which, although not absolutely precluding us from having children, indicated that it would be difficult to conceive.

With some reluctance we made a single attempt at IVF treatment, but the preliminary indications showed that the chances of success were close to nil. So we discontinued the process and subsequently looked at adoption as a means to parenthood.

Our decision to adopt was a very fruitful and positive one, even though the adoption process was a challenge in itself. I believe that the joys and struggles of parenting adopted children are practically identical to those experienced by other parents and after seven years it really feels like our adopted children are our biological children.

I know that for our children (as for anybody else), ancestry will be important; it is only natural that they would want to know their origins. They are now seven years old, and we tell them about their roots in ways which they can understand. Should, they feel at a later stage the need to investigate their origins we will help them in whatever way we can, even though unfortunately, in their particular circumstance, the chances of success are very small.

Clearly, our decision to abandon IVF meant that we had given up the chances of having our own biological children. This wasn’t easy to digest as the natural instinct is to have your own children and it is a strong instinct. However, I believe that in our case, the instinct to become parents was stronger than the instinct to have our own children at all costs. Thankfully, adoption provided the opportunity to satisfy that instinct.

Infertility Story 2: Anita Zerafa , From Infertility To A Natural Birth
“My fallopian tubes were closed”

I know perfectly well what it means to want a child. Nine years ago, all the medical tests I went through showed that my fallopian tubes were closed. The only option I was given from the medical team was IVF treatment. No one mentioned adoption.

Surprisingly, after a few months I got pregnant. The doctors couldn’t explain how it happened. Sadly, after six months I miscarried because of a placental abruption. The baby, a girl, was born alive and died in my hands. I had to hand her over to the medical staff for an autopsy. A month later, they gave her back to me for a burial.

When we discuss embryo freezing my mind goes to that terrible month during which my daughter was put in a jar with preservation liquid. I couldn’t bare see her there even though she was dead, let alone consider putting my own embryos in the freezer alive!

Honestly, I never fancied the idea of IVF – I feel that the IVF process treats the embryo like a product rather than a dignified pre-born child. When I realised that the embryo is really a pre-born baby, when I thought of the possibility of an embryo dying at the thawing stage, I could not consider IVF.

Despite what the doctors had told me, today I have been blessed with another two children who survived and are alive.

Infertility Story 3: Melanie* – The “Number 2″ Who Never Came… Still Waiting
“We have a combination of male and female infertility”

Whilst picking up my son from school, I frequently encountered mothers who discussed their personal view that they were happy having ‘one’ child and being ‘done’. I would remain silent, since I did not feel the same way. I wished for another child.

It was a shock for me when we discovered that both my husband and I had problems to conceive. We had a combination of male and female factor infertility. All the treatment options that might work for female infertility are futile. Even the regular procedure of IVF treatment is not effective. The only option was intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) treatment which involves IVF using a single healthy sperm that is directly injected in the ovum.

We were shattered at the news of having what is called ‘secondary infertility’. People around us frequently asked us ‘when will you have another baby?’ or ‘will you not give your son a little brother or sister?’ Little did they know what we were going through. People find it difficult to understand that having one child does not automatically mean conceiving the second one would be a walk in the park.

Another thing which hurt is when people tell us ‘at least you have one’. Yes, we are constantly aware of the gift we have received when our son was conceived. Yet when you wish to have more children; when you had already arranged for your work schedule to be family-friendly; when you feel you can financially provide for a larger family, it is extremely difficult to understand and accept the reality of not having the possibility to do so.

One may ask why we did not opt for IVF/ICSI treatment especially since in Malta it is offered free of charge even to couples who suffer from secondary infertility. We do have friends who went for IVF treatment and supported them all the way. We are happy that nowadays their children play with ours and are also thankful for the happiness that these children brought in our friends’ lives. However, we felt that in our case we had to take a different decision.

After thinking and praying about the different possibilities, we decided to leave this matter in God’s hands. I am aware that some people may not understand our decision especially when the technology that can help us lies at the tips of our fingers. However, the awareness of having been already blessed once , even when our conditions had begun to develop , continued to encourage us in making this decision. It is not always easy, and there are moments in which the pain is felt more keenly , such as when friends become pregnant with their second or third child, or when they share with us that their second or third was ‘unplanned’.

Despite this painful experience, we try to remain firm in trusting that our God is a God of surprises, a God whose plans for our lives go beyond what we plan for ourselves. We believe that despite not having the large family that we wished for, he can still fill our lives with beautiful things and extend our maternity and paternity in different ways. Our hope is that we do not get discouraged in difficult and challenging times, but remain firm in hope and in faith.

Infertility Story 4: Nadia* , From Sperm Donation To Adoption
“The gynae asked us if we wish to have sperm donated from my husband’s family”  

My story with treatment for infertility goes back to the 80’s when our gynaecologist suggested that we try sperm donation. He asked us whether we would like to have someone from my husband’s family, to donate his sperm, but I immediately refused. We opted for anonymous sperm donation. The gynaecologist ascertained us that the donor was healthy and had good physical characteristics and the process started.

Both the first and the second try were unsuccessful. My husband was very supportive but a certain sadness started to accompany me as I realised that my husband wasn’t really involved in all of this even though he was always with me, while I was having the treatment. He said that he wanted to see me happy but I also knew that he was hurt because this child was not really the fruit of our love. After the third and the fourth insemination treatment, I started feeling like an “object .

Together, we decided that it would be best to stop the treatment. We started volunteering to help with children and eventually we decided to adopt a child. Today our child has grown into an adult. We have loved her just as if she was our biological daughter although were always sincere about her origins. This decision made more sense in our relationship as we could really say that this child is ours, not mine and Mr.X’s.

It was only years later after having taken our decision, when I listened to adults’ experiences conceived through sperm donation that I realised the negative effects this kind of conception can have on the person. I felt the need to ask God for forgiveness. And I truly wish that even as a society we would place the child’s best interest in the centre of these decisions.

The second and fourth story where brought to you through Save The Embryo Protection Act-Malta.

*The names in these two cases have been changed as the persons wished to remain anonymous.

Read more:
– “I Hit Rock Bottom” – Getting The Basics Right To Get Out Of Rock Bottom
– “I Compare Myself To Others” – How Can I Stop Doing This?

Watch:

The post Infertility Personal Stories – 4 Short Stories of Acceptance & Hope appeared first on Universe of Faith.

Bio means life and ethics is concerned with values, what is right and wrong. Bioethics asks what is technologically possible, is it ethically permissible?  Catholic Bioethics topics include the value and significance of human life, the transmission of human life through new reproductive technologies, prenatal diagnosis and the right to life, sterilisation, abortion, the preservation and prolongation of human life, dilemmas in neonatal intensive care unit, issues in organ transplantation, research and human experimentation on human beings, genetic engineering, public health and concepts of health and disease. There are various types of ethical approaches in the subject of Bioethics. The role of Catholic theology to Bioethics according to the Pope’s letter The Gospel Of Life (1995) is to create a culture of life and overcome the culture of death. These bioethics quotes below were selected from the teachings of the Catholic Church. Under each quote you can find the source of the quote in hyperlink.

1. Support When A Child Feels Like A Burden…

“Life must always be welcomed and protected. These two things go together , welcome and protection. On the other hand, it is the responsibility of the State, the Church and society to accompany and concretely help all those who find themselves in serious difficulty, so that a child will never be seen as a burden but as a gift, and those who are most vulnerable and poor will not be abandoned.”
Pope Francis, visit to Poland, 2016

2. Embryo Freezing Deprives The Embryo From Maternal Gestation…

“Cryopreservation (embryo freezing) is incompatible with the respect owed to human embryos… it exposes them to the serious risk of death or physical harm… a percentage does not survive the process of freezing and thawing; it deprives them at least temporarily of maternal reception and gestation; it places them in a situation in which they are susceptible to further offense and manipulation. The majority of embryos that are not used remain “orphans . Their parents do not ask for them and at times all trace of the parents is lost. This is why there are thousands upon thousands of frozen embryos in almost all countries where in vitro fertilization takes place.”
Card. William Levada, The Dignity of The Person, 2008, 18

3. Humans Must Be Respected From The Very Beginning…

“Human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception. From the first moment of his existence, a human being must be recognized as having the rights of a person – among which is the inviolable right of every innocent being to life.”
Cathecism of the Catholic Church, No. 2270

4. Euthanasia is a sign of misguided pity, loss of meaning and hope…

“What really happens in this case is that the individual is overcome and crushed by a death deprived of any prospect of meaning or hope.

We see a tragic expression of all this in the spread of euthanasia-disguised and surreptitious, or practised openly and even legally. As well as for reasons of a misguided pity at the sight of the patient’s suffering, euthanasia is sometimes justified by the utilitarian motive of avoiding costs which bring no return and which weigh heavily on society. Thus it is proposed to eliminate malformed babies, the severely handicapped, the disabled, the elderly, especially when they are not self-sufficient, and the terminally ill. Nor can we remain silent in the face of other more furtive, but no less serious and real, forms of euthanasia. These could occur for example when, in order to increase the availability of organs for transplants, organs are removed without respecting objective and adequate criteria which verify the death of the donor.
Pope John Paul 2nd, The Gospel of Life, 1995, 15

5. Surrogacy creates a division between the physical and the psychological aspects of motherhood

Surrogate motherhood represents an objective failure to meet the obligations of maternal love, of conjugal fidelity and of responsible motherhood; it offends the dignity and the right of the child to be conceived, carried in the womb, brought into the world and brought up by his own parents; it sets up, to the detriment of families, a division between the physical, psychological and moral elements which constitute those families.
Card. Joseph Ratzinger, Instruction on Respect for Human Life, 1987, 3

6. Pope Francis On Abortion

“It is not progressive to try to resolve problems by eliminating a human life.”
Pope Francis, The Joy of The Gospel, 2013, 214.

Read more:
– Top Pope Benedict 16th Quotes About Catholic Education
– Top Pope Francis’ Quotes About Environmental Sustainability

The post Top Popes’ Bioethics Quotes appeared first on Universe of Faith.

1. Is there a difference between the morning after pill Plan B and EllaOne?

There is a significant difference between Plan B and EllaOne. EllaOne’s direct effects is to prevent implantation (it is a progesterone antagonist like RU-486 and works up to 5 days after intercourse) whereas the data on Plan B (which is levonorgestrel, a synthetic progestogen that works up to 3 days after intercourse) suggest that it may be anovulatory and not abortifacient when given at certain times in the woman’s cycle. So for practical purposes, EllaOne should never be administered even in the context of self-defense following sexual assault, whereas there may be grounds for administering Plan B under certain conditions.

2. What about research quoted by some pro-life organisations that the morning after pill Plan B could be abortifacient?

There has been and indeed continues to be debate concerning the mechanism of action of Plan B and in particular whether there is any time at which it could be given which would exclude the abortifacient mechanism. It has for some years been the understanding of NCBC, based on the existing scientific literature, that administering Plan B prior to the LH surge in a woman’s cycle (shortly before ovulation) could in fact prevent ovulation rather than preventing implantation. As such, NCBC has held that it could be licit to administer Plan B following sexual assault with appropriate testing to ensure the proper timing. The NCBC has been considering recent data on the topic that seem to suggest otherwise and hopes that more data continues to emerge, since these are questions of scientific and medical fact which are the basis on which moral conclusions can be drawn. The fact is that the data themselves, obviously including the more recent data, are the subject of debate.

If new data convincingly overturn the previous data about the expected action at different times in the cycle, then it may be that Plan B should not be administered at all in Catholic facilities. This does not yet appear to be the case.

3. So what is the guiding principle in the morning after pill Plan B debate?

Regardless of the outcome of this scientific debate, the guiding moral principle elucidated in n. 36 of the USCCB’s Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services remains the same: a drug which prevents ovulation following a rape (and thereby prevents conception, defined as fertilization of the ovum, days before implantation of the resulting embryo) could be legitimately administered to a woman following a sexual assault as an act of self-defense.

If administration of Plan B is allowed, it should be under conditions that would provide at least moral certitude of the anovulant (not abortifacient) mechanism of action. NCBC has a protocol for this which is currently being updated.

Note: In January 2017, internationally renowned obstetrician Profs Bruno Mozzanega explained in a lecture given in Malta that Plan B could also be abortifacient if taken before ovulation.

Further reading: Vatican Statement on the morning after pill, 2000.

Send us your question on hello@universeoffaith.org

Read more:
“I Coped With An Unplanned Third Pregnancy” – Josephine
“I’m Catholic And Pregnant Before Marriage” – Nicole Grech

The post Is the Morning After Pill Plan B Abortifacient? appeared first on Universe of Faith.

Bioethics Quote 1: Euthanasia – Cicely Saunders

“Suffering is only intolerable when nobody cares.”
Cicely Saunders

Bioethics Quote 2: Respect for Human Life – Warnock Report

“Scientists have always observed and agreed that once the process of development has begun, there is no part of the developmental process that is more important than any other; all are parts of a continuous process.”
Warnock Report, London (1984)

Bioethics Quote 3: Morning After Pill – Rebecca Keissling

“I was conceived in rape. I love my life. Taking the morning after pill can be like shooting in the dark. You don’t know if there’s a human being in there or not.”
Dr Rebecca Keissling

Bioethics Quote 4: Beginning of Human Life – Angelo Serra

“From this precise moment (the fusion of the gametes, syngamy) a new cell is active within which a highly complex cascade of processes clearly shows that the two gametes no longer work as two independent systems but on the contrary, that a new system has been constituted which works as a unit, that is a new being ontologically one. This new entity is biologically defined as a zygote or unicellular embryo.”
Fr Angelo Serra SJ, “When did I begin? – A scientific view”, Melita Theologica, 1997.

Bioethics Quote 5: Organ Transplantation – Wesley J.Smith

“In Belgium medicalised killing is now coupled with organ harvesting,including of the mentally ill. Health care rationing, which is blatant and invidious medical discrimination, is a growing threat. Advocacy continues to discard the dead donor rule in organ transplant medicine, even proposals for the live-harvesting of patients with profound cognitive disabilities.”
Wesley J. Smith

Bioethics Quote 6: Sperm Donation – Joanna Rose

“At 6 I realised that I looked very different from other family members. I asked my mum “are you really my mum, is my dad really my dad?” It hurts that you can’t meet your real dad, feel loved and acknowledged by him. My parents did not even want to be in the same room, let alone in the same bed. I don’t agree with sperm donation for this reason – you shouldn’t have a baby with someone you don’t love, let alone with someone you don’t know. I am the product of that.”
Joanna Rose Read more

Bioethics Quote 7: Surrogacy – Lucetta Scaraffia

“Never to use the egg of the mother that rents, but to acquire it from another woman (means) that the maternal figure is definitively destroyed, splintered in pieces…”
Lucetta Scaraffia

Bioethics Quote 8: Surrogacy – Swedish Women’s Lobby

“Experiences from countries where altruistic surrogacy is legal, such as Great Britain, the Netherlands and the United States, show that when altruistic surrogacy has been legalised, commercialisation has ensued.”
The Swedish Women’s Lobby

Bioethics Quote 9: Abortion – Judith Jarvis Thomson

“Every person has a right to life. So the fetus has a right to life. No doubt the mother has a right to decide what shall happen in her body: everyone would grant that. But surely a person’s right to life is stronger and more stringent than the mother’s right to decide what happens in and to her body, and so it outweighs it. So the fetus may not be killed: an abortion may not be performed.”
Judith Jarvis Thomson

Bioethics Quotes 10: Embryo freezing or storage – John Finnis

“Any form of freezing or other storage with genuine and definite prospect of a subsequent transfer, unimpaired, to the proper mother is unjust unless done as a measure to save the embryo in an unexpected emergency. Any procedure whereby embryos are brought into being with a view to selecting among them the fittiest or most desireable for transfer and implantation involves a radically unjust and maleficent intention, however good its further motivations.”
John Finnis 

Read more:
– Top Popes’ Quotes About Human Life & Bioethics
– Top Popes’ Human Dignity Quotes

The post Bioethics Quotes by Famous People appeared first on Universe of Faith.

“I am 23 years old. A year ago I got pregnant with my third child. I felt my world was crashing around me. Lots of negative thoughts came to my mind. I even wanted to terminate the pregnancy. But, thank God, I sought help from a crisis pregnancy centre in Malta and they helped me throughout the whole pregnancy and when the baby was born. I am so grateful for all the support. They were a pillar of strength for me.”

Comments from Eleanor Borg –  psychotherapist, who followed Josephine: 

Josephine had called HOPE, a service offered by the NGO Gift of Life, at the beginning of her struggle. She had found out she was pregnant with her third child and the situation she found herself in was complex. Given the existing difficult circumstances, Josephine felt very confused and concerned about her pregnancy and felt that she was not ready to face this reality. She considered having an abortion.

My first steps with Josephine, were to listen to her and give her the time and space she needed to express herself and feel safe as she shared her experience.  I realised that the situation was difficult for her to face and she was constantly overwhelmed with thoughts and feelings which were extremely uncomfortable.  What was she to do? How was she going to face the situation if she decided to keep the baby? What if my life become more difficult? What if I ended up on my own with three children?  She thought that if she terminated the pregnancy none of these problems would have to be dealt with, however I knew differently.  Today I know so, because of the many women I met that experienced an abortion, all share the intense turmoil they go through because of their decision. The mother who aborts experiences many lasting consequences; apart from having lost a child, the mother is tormented with fear, guilt, confusion and unhappiness for a very long time.

I kept meeting up with Josephine regularly listening to her and supporting her gently.  As time went by she was able to face her fears and keep the child.  Today she is extremely grateful, she grew from the experience and she is able to hold and love her baby who brings so much more happiness into her life and that of her family.

*Name has been changed.

Unplanned Pregnancy Support Contacts:
– Heart Beat International
– LifeLine Crisis Pregnancy Free Services, Malta
– Support During and After an Unplanned Pregnancy to Mother/Partner/Family, Guzeppa Debono Home, Gozo, Malta
– Hope, Crisis Pregnancy Awareness Centre, Floriana, Malta
– Difficult Pregnancies And The Unavailability Of Abortion In Malta
Watch:

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The euthanasia debate is not only about mercy and love. It is also about one’s concept of life. You can look at life in a way to say I want to live a pain free life, so the euthanasia argument becomes the most logical conclusion i.e. when there is a certain amount of suffering I will stop living. What’s important is that I won’t suffer.

The Christian Vision Against Euthanasia

On the other hand, in the Christian vision what’s important is that I live. Suffering in life, is to be embraced with a free heart. It is what Jesus said “no one takes my life from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. It is a conscious act of a decision that you are going to accept life as a gift. So one will not decide the specifications of this gift but accept the gift as it is.

If we live it in this way, our option will first be towards life not towards comfort. So, as a principle, euthanasia or suicide cannot be a favourable situation. We have done nothing to receive life and we should do nothing to take it away. Because if you accept that life is a gift, the gift itself decides the conditions.

This is why the euthanasia debate is so important. Because what’s important is that despite my pain I will remain near the person (e.g. my wife) who is so precious for me, so my pain becomes second. The opposite argument is that the pain becomes such a first that you are not a good reason enough for me that I remain alive. For the Christian, the main argument against euthanasia is even if I do not wish to remain alive for my own sake but there is another reason to remain alive , you , I will remain alive for the other person.

Published: September 2016

Read more:
– Top Popes’ Human Life And Bioethics Quotes
– “I’m a Doctor On A Spiritual Journey” – The Role Of Spirituality In Healthcare

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