Archbishop of Kingston Donald Reece (right) and Bishop of Mandeville Neil Tiedemann (centre) mull anti-abortion documents during a press conference on alternatives to abortion at the Holy Cross Church Hall. Looking on is Piero Tozzi, executive vice-president and general counsel of the Roman Catholic Family and Human Rights Institute. - Junior Dowie/Staff Photographer

The Mustard Seed Communities and Missionaries of the Poor have joined forces with other anti-abortion advocates to assist expectant mothers contemplating terminating pregnancies.

Father Gregory Ramkissoon, executive director of Mustard Seed, threw out the lifeline yesterday during a press conference at Holy Cross Church in Half-Way Tree, St Andrew.

Ramkissoon said his organisation was willing to care for children whose mothers believe they cannot keep them.

"Please, if you know anyone who has any intention of having an abortion, please come to us. We will work with them," Ramkissoon pleaded.

In wake of recommendations

The advocates' plea comes in the wake of recommendations of the Abortion Policy Review group, currently before a joint select committee of Parliament.

The Catholic bishops of Kingston, Mandeville and Montego Bay, representatives of the Coalition for the Defence of Life and other pro-life advocates hosted the press conference at the church.

The Archdiocesan Family Life Commission said the Government should consider alternatives to legalising abortion in Jamaica.

Local anti-abortion advocates claimed that some 22,000 terminations were done in Jamaica annually.

Commitment to return child

Ramkissoon, during a brief presentation, also gave the commitment to care for children when mothers sought assistance. If, at any time, mothers wished, children would be returned to them.

Father Richard Ho Lung, founder of Missionaries of the Poor, told the gathering that abortion was murder.

"Taking a child from the womb is legalising murder," said Ho Lung, signalling the position of his community to parliamentarians.

The heads of the two charities said they had received assistance from other anti-abortion advocates to carry out the initiative, which would include establishing pregnancy resource centres to assist women who see abortion as their only option.

Mustard Seed home, Mary's Child, currently has in its care some 12 teenage mothers.

Speaking with The Gleaner after the meeting, Ramkissoon said prenatal assistance would include counselling, financial assistance and a place to stay.

John Mais, chairman of Family Life Ministries in St Andrew, said its trained personnel were ready to offer assistance to mothers who came forward.

"This commitment is to any mother, teenage or otherwise, if they cannot afford it or for whatever reason, we will help her bring the child to term," said Ramkissoon.

Several other anti-abortion advocates gave testimonies at the function.

The coalition and other anti-abortion advocates have collected more than 87,000 signatures, which were presented to the parliamentary committee in November.

The Abortion Policy Review group in its presentation to Parliament in January revealed that at one premier hospital in Jamaica, in a period of just six months, 641 patients were admitted with abortion complications.

shelly-ann.thompson@gleanerjm.com

Contact

Mustard Seed Communities

1 Mahoe Drive, St Andrew

757-2839/6895

Missionaries of the Poor

87 Hanover Street, Kingston

922-1380/2218