TEENAGE pregnancy must be handled with great sensitivity to protect the life of the child and mother, says the head of the Catholic Church.
Responding to queries from this newspaper yesterday, Archbishop Peter Loy Chong said a Catholic pastoral response to teenage pregnancy centres on unconditional love, support and guidance while upholding the sanctity of life and promoting chastity.
“The church emphasises supporting the young mother, her child, and exploring options like adoption, while also addressing the potential role of the father and offering resources for both,” he said.
“The primary focus is on assuring the young woman that she is still loved and valued, despite the circumstances, and that her life is not over.”
The archbishop said the church strongly affirms the inherent dignity of both the mother and the unborn child, discouraging abortion and promoting the choice of life.
He says the church supports the provision of practical support, such as counselling, housing, healthcare, and financial assistance — to help the young mother and child.
Archbishop Loy Chong said the church would also support engaging the father of the child in the process.
A newborn baby was left inside a sanitary bin of a hostel washroom at a tertiary institution in Lautoka on Sunday, which raised serious concerns regarding the support of young people facing pregnancy.
