When she arrives at the Women's Center for her free pregnancy test, Maria is withdrawn, sullen, and has trouble making eye contact with Betty, the intake volunteer. The story begins to emerge as Betty calmly and kindly interviews the young woman and her boyfriend.

Maria is the youngest in a family of four children. Her father abandoned the family back in her native Mexico. Her mother resorted to selling vegetables on the porch in front of their tiny home, just to make ends meet. With few resources, and fearful of being a burden to their mother, Maria and her older sister ran away from home when she was just 15. They illegally crossed the border into the U.S., and have been trying to live out of sight of the authorities ever since.

Maria is now 18 and pregnant. She works for minimum wage at a nearby restaurant, where her employer is willing to overlook her illegal status. The father of the child, also an illegal immigrant, is a cook at the restaurant. Both Maria and Manuel are willing to carry the baby. However, both are afraid of being exposed by the authorities if they seek medical care for her pregnancy.

The Planned Parenthood clinic in town has said they could perform an abortion if the couple can come up with the $300.00 payment. Maria and Manuel are tempted, thinking this might be an easy way out of their predicament.

You are a volunteer counselor at the Women's Center. You meet with the couple for a short interview after Betty has finished taking down their information. You assure them that you are here to answer their questions, and to give them the facts. You tell them, "When you leave here this evening, I want you to know two things: that we care about you, and that you have choices."

As you talk with the couple, you learn some additional background. Maria's mother has two sisters (Maria's aunts), both of whom have had breast cancer. Though thin from an inadequate diet, Maria's health has generally been good. This is her first pregnancy. Estimating from her last menstrual period, she is eleven weeks pregnant 

Susan, the Women's Center nurse, performs an ultrasound exam, confirming a very lively 11.5 week-old fetus. Manuel is present during the exam. You and Susan smile and comment on how active the baby is. You notice that Maria has tears in her eyes, and Manuel is very quiet. When you finish, you invite the client to get dressed, and you tell her you will meet the two of them in your office to talk. 

• Of the following, which is the highest priority of your encounter with such a client? Are the priorities listed above mutually exclusive?

a)  Saving the baby

b) Helping the mother

c)  Providing unbiased factual information

d) Witnessing and trying to lead the client to Christ.

• Maria and her boyfriend were raised Roman Catholic, though they do not attend Mass regularly at present. Does this background influence what advice should be given o her?