THE EDITOR, Sir, CONCERNING THE Letter of the Day, 'All innocent lives deserve equal respect' by Lisa Fullam, August 28, 2004: Contrary to the claims of the letter writer, the papal encyclical 'Evangelism Vitae' does not teach that there are exceptions to the prohibition against abortion.
According to Catholic doctrine procured abortion is always considered morally illicit. In fact, "Since the first century The Church has affirmed the moral evil of every procured abortion" (Catechism 2271). Fullam's appeal to 'self-defense' to justify abortion is really nothing more than an appeal to 'situation ethics' which, in fact, the Catholic Church condemns.
For example, the Catholic Catechism (2265) teaches that "the defense of the common good requires that an unjust aggressor be rendered unable to cause harm". By no stretch of the imagination can a totally, innocent, unborn foetus, in any way or under any circumstances, be considered an 'unjust aggressor'. The Jamaican context is not, therefore, a 'situation' for justified abortion.
Bishop Paul Boyle is correct in his interpretation of Catholic doctrine. Fullam is merely creating 'tension' where it doesn't exist. In situations where the life of the mother is threatened one might do well to reflect on Jesus' exhortation that "there is no greater love than this, that one lay down one's life for one's friend."
The moral gravity of procured abortion is apparent in all its truth if we recognise that we are dealing with murder. Given such a grave situation, we need now more than ever to have the courage to look the truth in the eye and to call things by their proper name, without yielding to convenient compromises or to the temptation of self-deception. To claim the right to abortion and to recognise that right in law, means to attribute to human freedom a perverse and evil significance: that of an absolute power over others and against others. This is the death of true freedom.
I am, etc.,
PAUL KOKOSKI
Hamilton, Ontario
Canada
