Sir, - The issue of abortion will not go away and many readers continue to contribute to the debate. The number of women availing of abortion rises each year and concern is now being expressed at all levels of society about the increase. As we look at the statistics we should never forget the intense human dilemma a crisis pregnancy is for each individual woman. Philip Murphy (October 24th), is "sure that a poll could be commissioned to see what it was that has caused these unfortunate women to decide abortion was the best choice for them".
The Life counsellors who every day provide our network of pregnancy counselling services know only too well the many reasons why women choose abortions. Many women believe they have strong reasons for abortion - the woman may believe that she is too young, she may be still at school, have just started college or her first job, she may believe that she has enough children already, she would like children in the future but does not feel ready now, she may have just returned to the workforce, the father of her baby is not her husband or partner, it may have been a casual relationship or may have ended, the man may not be a suitable father, the pregnancy may be a result of sexual violence, she will have to give up work to care for the baby, she will be caught in the poverty trap while she rears her child.
All these are strong reasons but they are not the right reasons. No woman ever wants to have an abortion but many avail of abortion out of concern for parents, family and partners.
Life has been supporting and encouraging women to continue with pregnancies since 1981 and provide a range of services including pregnancy testing, counselling, referral to legal, medical and social welfare advice and help with accommodation. Our counsellors strive to understand the reasons that women choose abortions and sympathise deeply with women who feel they have no other option.
We believe that women will be able to continue with pregnancy if good and meaningful support is available during and after pregnancy. Ongoing support does not come cheaply and demands a high level of family, state and societal response. - Yours, etc.,
Anne Kennedy, PRO, Dublin Life Group, Dame Street, Dublin 2.