As I sit here in this hospital room, staring happily at my wife and our newly born baby girl, I can’t help but feel an instinctive desire to defend and protect my daughter from any and all harm. Although she is my fifth child, I struggle with these emotions and have to convince myself to back off long enough for the doctors to examine her.  Every time she’s taken away by the nurses, I follow them and make sure that they are in fact taking her to the nursery.  

I suppose no one but the other fathers here can understand. Although I encompass love, joy and admiration, the more dominant feeling is the one of unwavering protection, like a papa bear protecting his young.  This feeling was present during my wife’s pregnancy and has only increased. 

I ponder that this has to be the exact feeling that must be outright ignored and disregarded by fathers everywhere when allowing mothers to abolish the life that is within them.  Only a complete and total breakdown of the heart can explain such an utter disrespect for life.  

As with my daughter, I feel it my duty and obligation to passionately protect and defend the life of innocent children everywhere.  Their complete and utter reliance upon us should be enough drive us to devote ourselves in abolishing the threats of this world. 

Let us all resolve to do everything we can to extinguish these evils NOW so that the children of tomorrow don’t have to.  Let’s dig deep and find that instinctive, protective spirit.  

Happy birthday, baby girl!  I promise to do just that.   

Harvey Arellano President, Philly Pro-Life