ProWomanProLife

Based on my informed moral and religious conscience, I am a doctor who refuses to refer for abortions. I refuse to co-operate with intrinsic wrongness.

How do I explain this to my own young children? Last night, I read them Walt Disney’s Pinocchio: ” ‘No, Pinocchio,’ she answered. ‘First, you must prove yourself to be brave, truthful and unselfish. You must also learn to choose between right and wrong.’

‘But how will I know what is right and wrong?’ he asked. ‘Your conscience will tell you,’ said the Blue Fairy. ‘What’s a conscience?’ asked Pinocchio. ‘That’s the small voice that people don’t always listen to.’ ”

Dr. Rene Leiva, Ottawa

When I listened to Dr. Garson Romalis explain why he does abortions last year, I thought it was interesting. I was struck by how he has layered so many justifications on top of his conscience–but ultimately justifying is what he was doing.  If he were Pinocchio his nose would be awfully long by now. Totally unwieldy, even.