Gonzaga Witness

Issue date: 10/1/09 Section: Opinion

There was is woman being transported from one hospital to another by ambulance, she is suffering from three different life threatening conditions. This is no ordinary patient however, she is over 35 weeks pregnant and her conditions would make any form of delivery incredibly dangerous for both herself and the child. In this moment of stress, anxiety, and fear, the woman informs the doctor before she is escorted into the operating room, "If it comes down to a decision of who lives between me and the baby, I want the baby to live." What makes these courageous words so extraordinary is that this woman was originally intent on having an abortion. What then would cause a woman from considering ending her child's life to ensuring that it would be saved above her own? The answer is a small clinic in San Diego called Culture of Life Family Services. I was blessed to spend the summer with this organization and see this miracle in action.
What makes this organization so special that it could have this enormous effect? The answer is that they are able to truly love the women that are considering abortions. Most women that are considering abortions are not malicious or spiteful. Instead they face a very difficult situation and have other factors contributing to their decision. Some are dealing with abuse from family members or boyfriends, while others do not have the financial ability to care for a child. They want to follow their motherly instinct and do what is best for their baby but the world and its forces make this a difficult choice, and she starts to ask what is really "best". The cultural pressures enforce ideals such as comfort, easy fix, and support for abortions. This leads mothers to question their instinct to protect because they have to go against the cultural norms. What these women really need is a voice that says "I know it's hard but you can do this." They need encouragement and prayer to choose life.
This organization is a family medical practice with obstetrics and a special emphasis on women in these difficult situations. The goal is to promote a culture of life by using the medical expertise of its staff as a way of ministry to offer an alternative to abortion that most women do not know exists. This provides them with the opportunity to care for these women throughout their pregnancy and after. This goes beyond providing clothes, toys, diapers, and other material needs to the mothers. It is more than finding a willing adoptive family in some cases. Most importantly, during the visits, the staff makes an effort to counsel the mother and provide spiritual guidance. This is a need that is often overlooked, but is incredibly important. It is here that the counseling can provide hope and strength to battle the cultural forces, but also provide the mother with the same love and respect she deserves as a human being. The mother should receive the same love that her child deserves.

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