There is also an argument that abortion should be allowed if the pregnancy is as a result of rape or incest. I must say that this is a very difficult topic to discuss. I think this is one of the situations one must not be too quick to speak.

I think it is a pathetic situation when pregnancy results from incest or rape. The emotional impact on the affected person cannot be overemphasised. The idea of carrying the pregnancy may also add to the trauma. It may be a constant reminder of the experience the victim will wish to forget and put behind her as fast as possible.  What about having the child? If keeping the pregnancy will be a reminder to the affected, how much more having the child around?

There is also a general position that majority of children, who are products of incest are born with deformity. Many people also think that the children in this category may become a liability, flowing from the fact that they may become angry when they get to know the history of their birth. Many people also think the child may suffer transferred aggression from the mother. That is, the mother may transfer to the child the pain of the unpleasant experiences, which led to the pregnancy. I think looking at the complications of rape or incest, some of which I have tried to outline above, the preponderance of thinking is that abortion should be allowed if the pregnancy is as a result of rape or incest.

As strong as the argument is, there is a question I am not able to answer. My inability to answer this question to the satisfaction of good conscience makes it difficult for me to align myself with those, who believe and advocate that a pregnancy must be terminated if it resulted from rape or incest. Here is the question: why should the life of the innocent child be terminated because of a situation for which he is not in any way responsible? I do not think that the child should be denied the right to live because his/her pregnancy is as a result of rape. Killing the child will mean adding to the list of affected persons. Our commitment anytime there is a tragedy must not be to increase the numbers of causalities but to reduce them. That is the whole essence all forms of intervention when dealing with a tragedy. Rape of a woman or incest is a tragedy of immense proportion. I do not also believe that killing the child will erase the memory. I think the most effective way to deal with bad memory is to become the pioneer of one’s future instead of being a slave of the past as Rob Thompson says. This will require a total trust in God.

For those who argue that children of rape or incest may not turn out well, I beg to differ. If the child does not turn out well, it will not be because he or she is a product of rape or incest; it will be because the custodians did not take responsibility for the future of the children. I submit that a child, who is a product of rape or incest, can still turn out well, if he or she is given proper upbringing. It will be a very difficult task but I must assure that it is not an impossible task. According to Claire Boothe there are no hopeless situation, but only hopeless people.  James Robison was a product of rape. His mother later gave him up for adoption. Today James Robison, who has since 1963 maintained stable family life with his wife and 3 children and 11 grandchildren, has affected thousands of souls with his message of hope, inspiration and encouragement.

It is my informed conclusion that abortion will only make sense to my conscience when the pregnancy endangers the life of the mother.

I beg to sign out today. Thank you for visiting. I charge you to Think the CHILD…Think TODAY…Think the FUTURE…