A Brazilian man named Antonio Carlos Tavares de Mello has dedicated his life to helping unwanted children, including abortion survivors, answering a call from God thirty years ago.
Three decades ago, Antonio was inspired by God to start the Catholic Community of Jesus Menino, which now has three homes, two of which are in Brazil, the other in Portugal, to take care of neglected babies, including those who survived chemical abortions.
Over the last 31 years, his community, which receives no government funding, has adopted 106 children, many of whom have psychological and physical disabilities
Antonio said: “We care for children who’ve survived abortion and those who have been abandoned. It’s a Catholic humanitarian mission for children, to protect human life.
“Most of those we care for have survived an abortion… The community, for example, has looked after a boy called Joao since he was a baby. He’s now 9 years old, but during his mother’s pregnancy she took drugs to try to abort him.
“Joao was born unexpectedly at the entrance to a hospital and almost without a brain — what is called anencephaly — but he was still alive. The doctors said he had just a couple of months to live but now he’s 9 and has been cared for by the community all his life.
“It’s beautiful because he’s very mild-mannered, he has feelings.”
Next, Antonio plans to build a house for pregnant mothers considering an abortion.
Recalling the words of Mother Teresa, he said: “There’s no better gift than being present for someone.”
SPUC comment
A SPUC spokesperson said: “Antonio is an inspiration, setting an example this is profoundly pro-life, cherishing and looking after life unconditionally.
“What this story also shows is that children such as Joao, given the chance to grow, will flourish if loved and cherished – the antithesis of abortion, which only destroys.
“SPUC is thankful for Joao, as well as Antonio. The world is so much better and lovely because they exist.”
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