Pregnancies resulting from rape test the convictions of even the most dedicated pro-lifers. Indeed, most recently, a Maltese MEP, Dr John Attard Montalto, voted in Europe, in favour of abortion in cases of rape in war zones.
Rape is a truly horrific crime against women. Whether or not it results in a pregnancy, it can leave a woman feeling angry, afraid and guilty. Rape can have a crippling effect on a woman's self-confidence and self-esteem. It can seem as though a child conceived as a result, will be a constant reminder of the attack. For this reason, abortion is often seen as the obvious response to a sexual assault pregnancy.
It is not known exactly how many abortions each year are carried out following rape, but anecdotal evidence suggests that it is a very small number - a recent study estimates the number to be less than 0.1 per cent of all abortions.
It seems to be relatively rare for women to become pregnant after a sexual assault. Estimates vary, but most statistics suggest that rapes result in pregnancy in around five per cent of cases. At Gift of Life we often find that people agree with us that abortion is a tragedy. But when it comes to rape - and other "hard cases" - a few find themselves unable to commit themselves to a fully pro-life stance.
One could ask: why can't we make an exception in the hard cases?
At the heart of the pro-life case is a simple conviction: that an unborn child, at whatever stage of pregnancy, is a human being with as much right to life as you or I have. This applies regardless of the circumstances of that child's conception.
Therefore, as difficult as it may be, anyone who is truly pro-life cannot see abortion as the right response. Opposing abortion in all circumstances is frequently seen as uncaring, hard-hearted and dogmatic. But a consistent and logical pro-life position demands that we oppose abortion in all cases. Anything else would be illogical, given that our main objection to abortion is that it ends the life of an existing human being.
A victim of rape has not chosen to be pregnant; but neither has the unborn child chosen to come into the world in such tragic circumstances. Why should the child suffer the death penalty when he/she is entirely innocent?
We cannot discriminate against an unborn child simply because of the identity of the father. Who nowadays believes that children should be held responsible for the crimes of their parents?
Though we still have a good family base in Malta in general terms, sadly, many children have to live with parents who are inadequate, cruel or violent. Indeed, our laws that deal with abuse on children leave much to be desired. A number of children grow up with parents who are in prison, or drug addicts.
Life is not easy for these children; but do we say that their life is worthless because of their parents' failings and problems? No, we do not. We accept that they are all individuals, to be valued because each of them is a unique human being.
We can never know how a person's life will turn out. Some people achieve great things despite an extremely difficult or deprived upbringing, while others are born with every imaginable advantage but still make a mess of their life. Surely all of us deserve a chance to be born and make something of our life, irrespective of how we were conceived?
What is very often ignored is the possibility of adoption. If a woman really feels that she cannot bring up a child, there are thousands of couples who are desperate to have children, but are unable to conceive. Our adoption laws, however, also need to be overhauled to make the process easier for the ever increasing number of married couples willing to take these children in as their own.
It is often argued that abortion after rape should not be thought of as wrong because "the woman has not chosen to be pregnant". But this misses the entire point of the pro-life argument. Being pro-life means that we recognise a simple scientific reality; an unborn child developing and growing in the womb is a human being and deserves the respect that we would accord to every other human being, at whatever stage of their life.
The circumstances in which this unborn child came into the world do not alter our recognition of the child's humanity. That is not an easy principle to cling to. It is, however, a very important one.
Isn't an abortion the best way for a woman to begin to move on from the trauma of the rape? We might think so. But an abortion cannot undo the fact that the rape happened, and abortion can bring with it a whole new raft of potential problems.
Some women report that the trauma and emotional intensity of an abortion can exacerbate their existing difficulties. And even if a woman does find that abortion brings a sense of closure or relief, the fundamental objection to abortion - that it ends the life of an existing human being - remains.
We should remember that proponents of abortion will initially try to push for the legalisation of abortion in very emotive cases such as rape. Remarkably, they will never mention the other life that may be growing inside the mother; they will attempt to draw attention to the violence of rape.
Malta be warned - a Constitutional amendment to provide life to the unborn child may not stop the revolting rapists from preying on innocent women; however it will save the lives of many, who would otherwise become victims of abortion that in the not too distant future, may be legalised because in cases of rape.
The reason is simple. Once the doors are opened, it is then next to impossible to stop the inevitable domino effect that will ensue as abortion for other so-called compassionate reasons is gradually pushed by the so-called "pro-choicer".
All one need do is to take a look at how abortion was introduced in Catholic Portugal for a recent case study. If our government is truly pro-life, then it must demonstrate this and act now to safeguard future generations and make good on its publicised intention to propose measures to protect the unborn child through the Constitution of Malta.
Mr Vincenti is CEO of the Gift of Life Foundation