There are those who contend that the human person does not originate at conception and therefore the fertilized ovum should not enjoy full human rights. There is already a very sizeable body of scientific knowledge which disproves this view.
In 1981 a United States judiciary subcommittee invited experts to testify on the question of when life begins. All of the quotes from the following experts come directly from the official record of their testimony.
Dr Alfred M. Bongioanni, professor of paediatrics and obstetrics at the University of Pennsylvania, stated: “I have learned from my earliest medical education that human life begins at the time of conception. I submit that human life is present throughout this entire sequence from conception to adulthood and that any interruption at any point throughout this time constitutes a termination of human life. I am no more prepared to say that these early stages of development in the womb represent an incomplete human being than I would be to say that the child prior to the dramatic effects of puberty...is not a human being. This is human life at every stage.”
Dr Jerome LeJeune, professor of genetics at the University of Descartes in Paris, was the discoverer of the chromosome pattern of Down’s syndrome. Dr LeJeune testified to the judiciary subcommittee, “after fertilization has taken place a new human being has come into being”. He stated that this “is no longer a matter of taste or opinion,” and “not a metaphysical contention; it is plain experimental evidence.” He added, “Each individual has a very neat beginning, at conception. “
Professor Micheline Matthews-Roth, Harvard University Medical School: “It is scientifically correct to say that an individual human life begins at conception … Our laws, one function of which is to help preserve the lives of our people, should be based on accurate scientific data.”
Dr Watson A. Bowes, University of Colorado Medical School: “The beginning of a single human life is from a biological point of view a simple and straightforward matter – the beginning is conception. This straightforward biological fact should not be distorted to serve sociological, political, or economic goals.”
A prominent physician pointed out that at these Senate hearings, “Pro-abortionists, though invited to do so, failed to produce even a single expert witness who would specifically testify that life begins at any point other than conception or implantation. Only one witness said no one can tell when life begins.”
Dr Bernard Nathanson, internationally known obstetrician and gynaecologist, was a cofounder of what is now the National Abortion Rights Action League (NARAL). He owned and operated what was at the time the largest abortion clinic in the western hemisphere. He was directly involved in over sixty thousand abortions.
Dr Nathanson’s study of developments in the science of foetology and his use of ultrasound to observe the unborn child in the womb led him to the conclusion that he had made a horrible mistake.
Resigning from his lucrative position in 1974, Nathanson wrote in the New England Journal of Medicine that he was deeply troubled by his “increasing certainty that I had in fact presided over 60,000 deaths.”
In his film, The Silent Scream, Nathanson later stated, “Modem technologies have convinced us that beyond question the unborn child is simply another human being, another member of the human community, indistinguishable in every way from any of us.”
In 1979 Dr Nathanson wrote Aborting America to inform the public of the realities behind the abortion rights movement of which he had been a primary leader. At the time Dr Nathanson was an atheist. His conclusions were not even remotely religious, but squarely based on the biological facts.
As reported in The Pink Magazine of The Times (of Malta) of December 2006, Dr Tony Levatino, the American gynaecologist and obstetrician, who was in Malta in 2006 said, while in Malta, that he had carried out thousands of abortions until the tragic death of his adopted daughter made him realise and declare: “it hits you... it’s a real person you are killing”.
Michael Clancy, a photojournalist, was a pro-choicer until one day in 1999 he was at the right place at the right time. An unborn child, Samuel Armas, was operated on for spina bifida. As the surgeon was closing, baby Samuel pushed his hand out of the womb and grabbed the surgeon’s finger. “Suddenly,” said Clancy, “an entire arm thrust out of the opening, then pulled back until just a little hand was showing. The doctor reached over and lifted the hand, which reacted and squeezed the doctor’s finger. As if testing for strength, the doctor shook the tiny fist. Samuel held firm. I took the picture! ... I was totally in shock for two hours after the surgery ... I knew abortion is wrong, now it’s absolutely wrong.” In that instant Clancy went from being pro-choice to being pro-life.
In 2004 the US Congress passed the “Unborn Victims of Violence Act” which states that someone who “intentionally kills, or attempts to kill, the unborn child... be punished… for intentionally killing, or attempting to kill, a human being”. Why did the US Congress pass the law to protect the unborn child from attempted death if not because the unborn child, during the process of development in the womb, was considered already a human being?
Another scientist, Dr Thomas Verny, father, family therapist and psychiatrist, went further...from biology to psychology and psychiatry, and established that the unborn child is a deeply sensitive individual who forms a powerful relationship with his or her parents – and the outside world – while still in the womb. “By creating a warm, emotionally enriching environment in utero,” he said, “a woman can make a decisive difference in everything her child feels, hopes, dreams, thinks, and accomplishes throughout life.”
Dr Verny further established that while it is widely believed that the human foetus is a blank slate, lacking true sensation, emotional affect, or even the ability to feel pain, scientists have discovered that a mother’s unborn child hears her voice and senses her love. The unborn child has significant sensory capabilities. He can see, hear, and feel.
Going by these scientific discoveries the unborn child should enjoy full human rights from conception.
Why did Dr Watson, Dr Nathanson, Dr Levatino and Michael Clancy, quoted above, speak the way they did? It is clear this issue rests not only on the discoveries of science but also on the ‘discources’ of con’science. Scienza e Coscienza.
Tony Mifsud
Coordinator of Malta Movement for the Rights,
Protection and Development of the Unborn Child
Kare4Kenya supports more than 90 boys and girls. Kare4Kenya’s mission in Kawangware is “to improve the lives of Kenyan children by providing educational opportunities”.
Now that another year has passed, Kare4Kenya would like to thank all those who helped us throughout the past 12 months so that we were able to continue supporting our children in the slum are of Kawangware, in Kenya.
It is not us who are thanking you, but the children you are helping. I certainly know that if these children are here in Malta they would definitely won’t stop saying “Asante Sana” … thank you very much … for all you are doing for them. Our sincere thanks go out to all the sponsors who are assisting us financially for the need of these children.
Another thank you goes out to all those who helped us financially with any kind of donation and also we would like to thank all those companies, shops and individuals who gave us numerous vouchers and other things for our fund-raising activities.
We aid development by working closely with Kenyan children, youths and their families, providing access to schools and by helping them to start income generating and community building projects. We recognize a great desire by the Kenyan people to progress independently and not just to be led, with many young people keen to learn, acquire, and utilize new skills to help build their future.
The majority of Kare4Kenya’s children attend the Ndurara Primary School and there is another group who attends the ‘Good Shepherd’ Secondary School. Every year, expenses are increasing. 3
7 2007 was a busy year for Kare4Kenya. During the past 12 months, we organized different fund raising activities so that our projects in Kenya could continue. This was all possible thanks to the generosity of all those who contributed.
But for sure, the most important experience Kare4Kenya had was last Summer when a group of 13 members of Kare4Kenya spent the whole month of August in Kawangware and worked closely with the Kenyan children and their families.
Now back in Malta, Kare4Kenya is continuing its activities so that our projects will continue in Kenya. Our next activity – to which the public is invited to visit – is an exhibition of drawings that the children made during the summer camp we organized last Summer in Kawangware. This exhibition – entitled “Asante Sana from the hearts of the children in Kenya” – will be held in collaboration with the Ghaqda Filantropika Talent Mosti between the 2nd and the 16th of February, 2008, at the Centre for National Culture in the Razzett tal-Markiz Mallia Tabone, in Mosta.
Like all charities, Kere4Kenya needs constant funding to be able to survive. These funds are mainly needed for the children in order to make it possible for them to continue their education and for their medical needs (this is where most of the money is spent), and to help parents start their own business projects to enable them to generate their own income.
That’s why Kare4Kenya is appealing for funds in 2008. One can help by sending a donation by cheque payable to Kare4Kenya at “Kare4Kenya c/o 29, C Tridenti Street, l-Ibragg” or by depositing directly into our BOV Account: 40012719129.
Kare4Kenya is also inviting all those who would like to help by organising a fundraising event in aid of Kare4Kenya. Please let us know beforehand so that we can give you a formal letter proving your good intentions. Anybody interested in supporting Kare4Kenya’s work in Kenya please do not hesitate to send an e-mail to info@kare4kenya.org.
Brandon Pisani
Media Officer,
Kare4Kenya
Maltese Catholics cannot stand by and let the Vatican go unchallenged with its irresponsible attitude towards condoms. Cardinals and bishops must promote a culture of life in which responsible sexuality and AIDS prevention are linked; not a culture of death which will result in more AIDS ravaged communities. Catholics need to know that using condoms doesn’t make one a bad Catholic. In fact, using condoms to protect themselves and their partners is part of being a good Catholic.
Having condom machines at Universities and schools will teach students to use them properly and they are more likely to understand HIV and AIDS. The concerns of the small minority who oppose providing condoms or related instruction in schools and universities is not substantiated.
Peter P. Dingli
Victoria, Australia
