Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Tai Pei (Agenzia Fides) – According to statistics from the Internal Affairs Ministry of the government in Taiwan, 8,195 children were born to single mothers in 2008, equal to 4% of all births. The number of mothers under 20 years of age is 3,802, 2% of the women who have given birth this year. From January to September 2008 alone, there have been 895 cases of violence suffered by female minors, 9% of the 9,929 cases of cases of violence suffered by women. According to the Sisters of the Congregation of the Good Shepherd, behind each one of these numbers is a girl who desperately calls for help and the Catholic Church cannot remain indifferent, but must become a “guardian angel” for these young mothers. Among the various activities with this end, the Good Shepherd Social Welfare Services of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd is working on the frontline.
In addition to the 4 specialized centers (Home for Newborns in Tai Nan, “The Dew” Service Center, Good Shepherd Home for Children, Child's Care Center in Ning Xin) that offer assistance to raped, abandoned or abused women, they have also opened two telephone help lines for offering moral, medical, and psychiatric counseling to pregnant women. During 2008, they have helped 22 single mothers (including 16 under the age of 18) to find suitable living conditions for themselves and their newborn children. They have also offered 347 direct services (visits, meetings, individual and collective moral support), 178 medical services (accompanied by gynecological care during and after the birth...), etc. Through their site, the sisters spread awareness throughout society of the need to help these young women in difficulty, especially at this time of the world crisis, which has led to an increase in violence against women. The Congregation of the Good Shepherd began in 1835, founded by Sr. Mary Euphrasia Pelletier in Angers, France. It arrived in Tai Pei upon the invitation of the Archbishop, where it later founded the Good Shepherd Social Welfare Services as a response to the widespread phenomenon of prostitution. Over time, it has extended its apostolate to women and children in difficulty. (NZ) (Agenzia Fides 20/7/2009)
