No excuse at all to kill a human being!

Feb 02, 2009

EDITOR—On Thursday, The New Vision published Rev Amos Kasibante’s letter entitled, “Abortion may be necessary under certain circumstances” The US Declaration of Independence clearly and unequivocally states in absolutist terms that “all men are

EDITOR—On Thursday, The New Vision published Rev Amos Kasibante’s letter entitled, “Abortion may be necessary under certain circumstances” The US Declaration of Independence clearly and unequivocally states in absolutist terms that “all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”.

The death penalty in some US states does nothing to detract from the universality of this claim. As a proof, Kasibante will note that most US states have banned the death penalty in keeping with the correct interpretation of the Declaration.

Kasibante is also wrong in claiming that “embryonic cell research promises a remedy for many illnesses”. In fact embryonic stem cell experiments (which require the killing of a human being in its initial state) have failed to produce a single, unqualified, therapeutic success, even in animal models.

On the other hand, adult stem cell therapies (which are morally acceptable) are being used extensively today in treating a wide variety of diseases such as Parkinson’s disease, spinal cord injury, cardiovascular disease and sickle-cell anaemia. We must help those who are suffering, but we may not use a good end to justify an evil means. Human beings are not raw materials to be exploited or commodities that can be bought and sold.

Contrary to Kasibante, those who campaign for the legalisation of abortion in “certain circumstances” also advance a false sense of compassion. Under the guise of mercy they promote murder. Hence, Kasibante is morally incoherent in claiming that murder (via abortion) in the case of rape is justified. It is never permissible to kill another human being.

Many people talk about the ‘psychological scars’ of women who have been raped but fail to mention the suicidal tendencies which eternally haunt each and every person who has ever aborted. Inconvenience is not a reason to commit murder.

Ultimately, when the law accepts that the rights of the weakest may be violated, it also accepts that the law of the jungle prevails over the rule of law. When we begin to call even an embryonic human being a ‘thing’, a ‘clump of cells’, progress becomes blind and destructive. We all must welcome every new life into the world, regardless of the circumstances, as if it were our own. Our lives and the lives of our unborn children are inseparable. I will leave readers with this quote: “I’ve noticed that everybody that is for abortion has already been born”—Ronald Reagan, New York Times, September 22, 1980.

- Paul Kokoski
Ontario, Canada

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EDITOR—Rev Amos Kasibante has showered praises on Barack Obama for bolstering policies that empower adults to take action against unwanted pregnancies. A president of the most powerful country on earth, Obama’s ruling needs no defenders to take effect.

Detractors of Obama’s policy can only grumble feebly; moreover there are countless men and women ready to destroy unwanted foetuses for reasons beyond rape which Kasibante barely referred to. It is possible that President Obama does not believe, as Rev. Kasibante does, in repealing the anti-abortion law.

Abortion is touted by the US Democrats as a family planning method, a matter of choice (to be or to evade parenthood), and a means of population control. Individuals and couples can cite any justification to end the unborn baby’s life. The priest must be aware that human life begins at conception. Abortion therefore involves three parties—the father, mother, and unborn baby.

It is nonetheless the baby that cannot be consulted but ultimately sacrificed during abortion because, being a foetus, it cannot defend or protect itself. Anti-abortion campaigners thus claim to speak for such innocent, defenceless babies – and there is logic in this. What would a priest who sees nothing wrong in killing unborn children say about child sacrifice? Like abortion, it is a matter of choice, convenience and desire for prosperity.

Anti-abortionists must not give up on explaining the sanctity of life and the dignity in protecting the weak. The foetus has no voice, but can find one in the pro-life activists.

Venansio Ahabwe
Kampala

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