Posted on 05/06/2007 6:01:01 AM PDT by don-o
Model, singer and actor Eduardo Verastegui, “heartthrob” of countless women in Mexico and Latin America for his romantic leads in Spanish-language soap operas ("Herida de Amor," "Salomé", "Tres Mujeres") and movies (“My Gardener,” “Chasing Papi”), has become one of the most eloquent voices against abortion in Mexico and the U.S.
The singer/model/actor, once caught up in the hot “vida loca” of self-indulgence, glamour, and money, says he has no fear of public rejection for denouncing “the holocaust of abortion.” Verastegui has explained his pro-life convictions to various Mexican media outlets and has created an organization in California to help those in need, especially women who are experiencing untimely or difficult pregnancies.
In an interview with the magazine Hola, he said he was “very frustrated over what is happening in Mexico today. I think there is tremendous manipulation of the news that the Mexican people are being given. The law is based on lies, because abortion is a crime."
Abortion, Verastegui told the magazine, is “something so grave, so profound, it goes beyond any philosophy or religion.”
The Mexican actor went on to say there is no justification for abortion. “Let women do with their bodies what they wish, but the baby? What happens to the baby who has no voice and can’t defend himself? Perhaps 100 years ago there could have been doubts… that there was life from the moment of conception. But today it is something scientifically proven, there is no doubt.”
He said that his own experience has shown that “most women who go there do not want to do it. It is something completely unnatural. I have been to clinics and when I talk with young women, they are scared, they feel alone and without help.
For many years Verastegui said he sought happiness in fame and in success but as time went on he realized he was “empty.”
“In my search to know what was beyond this emptiness, I began to ask myself the great questions that everyone asks at some point in life: What am I doing in this universe? Where do I come from? Where am I going? What’s the meaning of all this? And in this search… I realized I had been selfish, walking ahead blindly in vanity and pride... I wanted to do good things and I was not doing them,” he said.
The actor said he has now promised himself he would never do anything that contradicts his moral principles or that would misrepresent Hispanics, “neither in film, nor in television nor in any other media.”
His new movie, "Bella" (to be released on Aug. 15), was the winner of the People’s Choice Award at the Toronto Film Festival last fall. The independently produced film tells the story of Jose, an international soccer star who ends up working at his brother’s Mexican restaurant, and Nina, a waitress he meets there. The plot touches on death, abortion, adoption, the importance of family, and the meaning of love – with the clear message that every human life is important. “No mere movie, it offers hope for the beleaguered anti-abortion movement to reverse the political tide running against it,” wrote syndicated columnist Robert Novak on April 30.
When asked what caused such great changes in his life as a man and as an artist, Verastegui replied, “I was living in constant contradiction. What changed it was faith --the faith. It was a gift through the prayers of my mother.”
People can change, Thank God.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
Just wait until Our Lady of Guadalupe’s revolution.
(Another of whom I have the slightest familiarity.)
The interesting thing is the turnaround. His film company is called "Metanoia" which is the Greek for repentance, iirc.
He was the subject of a thread last week, I believe, about a pro-life event in the Northeast at which he appeared.
Good article. It can be difficult to make a piece work when it’s made up largely of quotes, but this is well done.
is this movie in English or Spanish?
Looks like post 5 has links that would answer your question.
Being Catholic has nothing to do with it, there are plenty of Catholics who disagree with the Pope, the man actually has a conscience.
Yes, you are right, he does have bright eyes.
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At least he “ Get’s it “ .
WHAT A HUNK! and he has a brain and a heart too....
I'm so glad that the Latino 'macho culture' has a man who is willing to buck that trend and stand for LIFE!
It was filmed in 23 days in New York City. It’s in English. Though I do hope they put out a Spanish-language version, though, and show it all over Mexico and Latin America.
By the way -—whew. Handsome man.
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