As a guy, it's rather interesting to watch and talk with the fathers that come into the EMC centers. Each one is different but there seem to be some patterns developing.
Thankfully, there are some men who seem to realize what it means to be the father and the head of a family. Sadly, though, they're not exactly knocking down the doors. When one does cross my path, it's quite refreshing as happened last week in the Bronx.
More often, I see the guy who comes in pretending like he's in charge of the whole world. He's got his life and his girlfriend's under control. Often, this is the fellow who is pressuring the woman to abort, although, they generally cover by saying "it's her choice, I'm behind her either way." This is such a copout. He's just wanting her to abort and justifies it in his mind that he'll not have blood on his hands.
The saddest part about these fathers, at least for me, is that they seem to realize that it is a baby that is being killed, they've just rationalized the act in their mind somehow (each person is different and they usually have it all worked out) and now they've shoved it all off on the mother. Such manly behavior!
Some of these men are really beyond reason. They have built up such a wall that they cannot be reached, except maybe through prayer. Some of them do really care about the mother. These men often react in horror and even turn around after they realize what actually goes on during an abortion and then apply that to their girlfriend (or wife). One guy last week met this description, watching his face and body language change was one of the more amazing changes I've seen working here. He and his girlfriend decided not to go ahead with getting an abortion. Seems he didn't have everything figured out after all!
St. Joseph pray for the fathers!
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