O'Leary's Choice

“You don’t know my father.” “No, I don’t. By the way, you just said he could never forgive a mistake like this. What mistake is that?” Christina’s dark, decisive eye brows formed a puzzled frown. “Getting pregnant, what do you think we are talking about?” “Yes, that was a mistake,” agreed Fr. O’Leary softly, “but don’t you think your intended solution is another one? By giving in to the fear of your father finding out about your being pregnant, aren’t you risking another mistake that would disappoint him even more?” Christina was now sobbing. “All I know,” she said in barely understandable words, “is that I would rather die than have my father find out I was sexually permissive. Which, by the way, I definitely am not.” Fr. O’Leary gently placed a hand on the woman’s shoulder. “Christina, I don’t know your father, but let me tell you two things about a fathers’ love. It is compassionate and forgiving.” “Like you said, you don’t know my father.” “No, Christina, I don’t. But from what you have said, and what I do know about most fathers, I am sure he would not only forgive you, but would actually be proud of you.” “Proud of me for getting pregnant and having an abortion?” “No, proud of you for not taking the easy way out. Proud of you for not having an abortion, for making a difficult choice and saving a life.” Christina stared down at the ground, absently watching a leaf slowly being borne by the wind across the walkway in front of her. The priest continued, “There are two points to be made about making mistakes, and believe me, we belong to a church that has made her share in the recent past so you needn’t feel that mistakes aren’t understood. Or can’t be forgiven. Anyway, the first point is not the mistake itself, but what you do after it. ‘To err is human’ is an adage neither empty nor false, we are all human and we all make mistakes. It is what we do afterwards that matters.” “What we do afterwards? You want me to face my family, tell them I am pregnant, then leave school to raise an infant without an education, job or husband?” “No, Christina. I want you to consider adoption. I promise to be with you all the way, I will even go with you to tell your father, if you would like. I will also reimburse you for any expense. Then, the baby gets adopted by a loving married couple who otherwise wouldn’t be able to realize their dream of becoming parents. A dream they will finally be able to realize because of you. A very difficult choice, but one not only you, but your father as well, will be forever proud of. As I’ve said, I’ve done this before. I will help. Emotionally, spiritually and financially. Will you at least think about it for the next three days until your appointment?” Christina remained silent, eyes now closed, her cheeks wet and glistening from fallen tears. “What I definitely don’t want you to do,” continued Fr. O’Leary gently, “is give in to pressure from family and friends while trying to make a life changing decision. This is where prayer and counseling are especially important. And,” the priest paused, “resisting what appears to be the easy path.” Christina opened her eyes as she slowly lifted her head. “And yet you are giving me pressure right now, aren’t you?” “No. I am trying to offer you a viable option, one you could live with, and help you avoid a mistake you will almost certainly regret for the rest of your life. Tell me,” the priest continued softly, “do you know the story in John’s gospel about the woman caught in adultery?” “Yes,” she replied, her voice again barely audible. “The crowd was going to stone her to death.” “Yes, and what did Jesus do?” “He forgave her.” “Not at first, he didn’t. When the crowd demanded the woman be punished, stoned to death according to Mosaic Old Testament law, what was it that Jesus said?” Christina thought for a moment. “That the one without sin should be the first to throw a stone?” “Yes, and then what happened?” “No one threw a stone.” “Correct. Then Jesus forgave her. But he told her something else, too. Do you remember what that was?” Frowning, Christina sniffled again and shook her head. “He told her to go and to not sin again. The crowd didn’t condemn her and neither did he.” For a moment both figures sat quietly on the park bench. Then Christina spoke. “Father, I…I just don’t know.” “Think of the joy you will bring to that couple who so desperately are hoping to one day be parents. Think of the joy you’ll have when you finally face your other father, the one in heaven, and his son. The joy you’ll have for the rest of your life knowing that you made a selfless decision, resisted the easy way and did the right thing.” Slowly shaking her head from side to side, lips pressed tightly together, Christina didn’t respond. Then, opening her eyes and staring down at the pavement, she murmured, “You said there were two points to be made about mistakes. What is the other one?” With a glance at his watch, the priest stood and his concern and compassion clearly evident, stared at the young woman. Removing a business card from his pocket and handing it to her, he said, “I promised I wouldn’t keep you any longer than a half hour. It’s now been 35 minutes. Here, you can reach me at my cell number just about any time.” Then, bending down and leaning in close to her, staring into her intelligent but sorrowful eyes only a few inches from his own, he whispered, “The second point is this. Don’t ever let it happen again.”