Dear Pastor,

I am 22 years and living with my mother and three brothers. The living conditions at our house is not good. I am not working, but I have a boyfriend. He helps to take care of me.

I am pregnant. It is not something that I wanted, but my boyfriend does not like using condoms. I was taking the Pill but missed a few days and now I am pregnant, but he does not know. He said he wouldn't want me to get pregnant and encouraged me to take the Pill. I only have myself to blame.

I told my mother I was on the Pill. She knows I am having sex. She also encouraged me to go on the Pill. I don't know how to tell her that I am pregnant. I am not showing but I don't know what to do. I always consider abortion as sin, but here I am pregnant, and I do not want this child. Because of the type of work my boyfriend does, he might not be able to hold his job. He is going through a probationary period.

We are not ready to get married. I told my boyfriend on the phone that I had something to tell him, but when I saw him I changed my mind. If I had the money I would do the abortion without him knowing.

L.D.

Dear L.D.,

You mentioned the type of work that your boyfriend is doing but I do not wish to embarrass neither of you, so I would not mention what it is. I would say, however, that both of you are extremely careless and irresponsible. Your mother advised you to use the Pill and because of your carelessness you did not take it according to instruction.

I cannot encourage you to have an abortion. What I would like to encourage you to do is to talk to your mother. Tell her the truth about what is going on. She would be upset with you, but at the same time she might give you the moral support you need. I also suggest that you should tell your boyfriend that you are pregnant and you should do so right away.

Pastor