Easier not to help pregnant women

Responding to Terry Cosgrove in the Nov. 21 Fence Post, I disagree with the conclusion reached regarding the Catholic Conference’s efforts for life. Certainly their hearts and mine go out to any victim of rape, and especially if that rape results in a pregnancy. I cannot imagine any more unwanted pregnancy than one resulting from rape.

However, do we need to add a second victim? Does the innocent baby conceived in this rape deserve to die for the sin of his or her father, the rapist? This baby did nothing wrong, nothing deserving of death. Even to use the so called “morning after” pill to prevent a pregnancy is in fact to cause this baby to be aborted.

Not only does this create a second victim, it re-victimizes the mother who will invariably have her suffering magnified by the taking of this life. Physiologically, pregnancy resulting from rape is rare because of the horrific stress of being raped and the resultant chemical cascade occurring in the mother’s body. These factors serve to mitigate against a life being created. Consequently, if a life does result, one must wonder what this child may become that God allowed normal physiology to be bypassed.

The wonderful gospel singer, Ethel Waters, was created by the incestuous rape of her mother. How grateful I am that she was not aborted simply because of the origin of her life.

True caring for another need never involve encouragement to take a life. Some may see it as more convenient, but it certainly isn’t caring. Will it be a sacrifice to carry the baby to term? Of course it will. That’s where all of us come in to support a woman in this situation. That’s the problem — it’s easier for us not to step up to the plate and help.

P.J. Bertrand

Wood Dale