The disrespect for the infinite value of human life is arguably the greatest problem in the world today, after the rejection of Jesus, Son of God and Redeemer of the human race.

The culture we live in is against the Gospel of Jesus. People are used and abused, kidnapped and killed.

There are many injustices in the world today but, without a doubt, disrespect for human life affects the world. There is a group of people that suffer the ultimate abuse of wilful murder - children in their mother's womb. It is estimated that in the last century approximately six BILLION babies have been aborted worldwide by surgical and chemical (the pill) methods.

God is love and because, through the sacrament of baptism, we are children of God, we must love as He loves. Jesus said he came to bring us life to the full. We, Jesus' Church, because of our calling to love, have the prophetic duty to defend all human life from conception to natural death.

Abortion is not a private matter. It is a destructive evil that affects the entire society. Murder is committed and is accepted - society dies a little in its ability to support life. The woman suffers emotionally and often physically. Marriage dies from within the relationship. The man often suffers emotionally. The aborted child's siblings suffer insecurity. And society loses its most precious resource - creative human beings.

Emmanuel Community will present facts of life every last Sunday in the months ahead, starting from today, Easter Sunday, to expose the deceptions of those who promote abortion and to help you understand the issues involved in the changing the prevailing "culture of death" to a "culture of life."

Due to the increasing popularity of this drug, we have decided to emphasise the possibly deadly consequences of taking Cytotec - not only for unborn children, but for mothers. As a by-product of killing her child, the drug can also kill the woman who chooses to take it. Chemical abortion is rapidly replacing the surgical methods of abortion. This silent and seemingly hidden method, has become more apparent, not only internationally but also here in Trinidad and Tobago .

Hereunder, for your easy reading, are some highlighted TRUTHS on the intended use and now mis-use of this drug:

Cytotec (taken orally) is made for the prevention of NSAID (no steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, including aspirin) - induced gastric ulcers in patients at high risk of complications from gastric ulcer .

Its makers advise that this drug is extremely dangerous to mother and child, if used during pregnancy .

This drug is restricted to prescriptions only . Some pharmacies do not even stock this drug due to the potency of the drug, if not used under a doctor's orders and supervision. (However, it is reported that doctors prescribe this drug to induce an abortion, for a fee).

Side effects include maternal or fetal death, uterine hyper-stimulation (excessive contractions of uterine muscle), rupture or perforation of uterus, requiring uterine surgical repair, hysterectomy or salpingo: oophorectomy (removal of fallopian tubes & ovaries); amniotic fluid embolism (air or liquid that originates in one part of the blood circulation, travels through the blood stream & lodges in another part of the circulation), severe vaginal bleeding, retained placenta (whole or part of placenta that remains inside the uterus after normal attempts by the uterus to expel it), fetal bradycardia (fetal heart rate below normal range), shock, and pelvic pain. (Aug. 2000 G D Searle & Co.manufacturers of Cytotec. Advisory on the use of Cytotec to induce labours and abortions .)

It is reported that the dispensing and prescribing of this drug for its ability to induce an abortion has become highly profitable here in Trinidad and Tobago.

Women are given the drug without the required supervision by registered medical practitioners.

There are recorded deaths in Trinidad due to the mis-use of this drug, including the much publicised death of a teenager in August 2002.

Despite the manufacturer's strong warning of the dangers of the mis-use of this drug, local pro-abortion groups and local doctors, promote this drug and other chemical inducing abortions, alongside the more repulsive use of surgical abortions.

The above is one of many Life TRUTHS that will be provided to the readership of the Catholic community every last Sunday monthly. We hope that the information we provide, will serve to better equip you to understand and defend life issues.

Please contact Emmanuel Community @ 628-1064, 1586 or 8181 for detailed information or to provide us with your comments.

Unplanned pregnancy?

For help, you can call

Emmanuel Community

@628-1064, 1586 or 8181.