Worshippers of the Open Bible Churches of Jamaica raise their hands in praise at the National Arena in St Andrew yesterday. The occasion was the Open Bible Churches of Jamaica's 59th annual conference/convention, under the theme 'Living In Love'. - Norman Grindley/Deputy Chief Photographer

Roman Catholic Archbishop of Kingston Lawrence Burke has added his voice to the abortion debate which has been on the nation's radar in recent weeks. Archbishop Burke said that the Roman Catholic Church in Jamaica would not support the legalisation of abortion in the island.

"Scripture, tradition and science are clearly showing that human life begins at conception. The new evidence of science is that at the very moment of conception, that zygote or whatever you want to call it has its own individuality and its own DNA," he said at a men's breakfast held at the Stella Maris Pastoral Centre, St Andrew, last Saturday.

Archbishop Burke said that despite the arguments being postulated by some groups that in specific situations, such as rape or incest, abortion should be considered - the Roman Catholic Church could not support that stance.

"The Catholic Church, looking at the reality of what is in the womb, says we don't care how it got there, this is human life, we cannot kill human life, even in those particular circumstances," he said.

Psychological difficulties

"We will help the mother to face all the psychological difficulties which people who are raped have difficulty with, whether they become pregnant or not, we will help them through those difficulties," he continued.

He, however, said that the Church should not be viewed as uncaring because of this.

"It's not that we are heartless, but we don't see how we can sacrifice human life because of someone's shame, or because of the difficulties one might endure," he added.

The archbishop also chided the media for making the Church appear as if it is at war over the issue. Burke said that even if a revised abortion law was passed, the Roman Catholic Church would continue to work with the government.

Meantime, the Open Bible Standard Churches of Jamaica yesterday endorsed a petition drive fuelled by a coalition of church/Christian groups at its 59th annual conference held at the National Arena.

Dr Sheree Simpson, a member of the Christian Doctors' Association, encouraged the large gathering to be a voice for the unborn "who are voiceless".

Petition drive

"We are presently doing a petition drive; we want to go through the entire island to get as many signatures as possible to say that people do not want abortion to be legalised."

Dr Simpson estimated that the petition currently has 10,000 signatures, but she, however, wanted much more. She also did not say when the document would be presented to Parliament.

A report was tabled in Parliament by the Abortion Policy Review Advisory Group last January. The report revealed that botched abortions are burdening the public health sector as many women who suffer from the complications that arise after the 'back-street operations' were unable to pay for the costly treatment they receive.

The report recommended, among other things, that an authorised medical practitioner may perform abortions up to the 12th week of pregnancy in registered facilities.

It also recommended that abortions between 12 and 22 weeks of gestation be restricted to being performed in hospital facilities and being done or supervised by a specialist.