A video by Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli presents his testimony that his mother was encouraged to have an abortion before he was born, and he admits to being "partisan," but says her decision to let him live was the right one.
The video:
It was posted by I Am Whole Life, an organization that also works with actor Eduardo Verastegui, whose recent movie "Bella" carried a powerful pro-life message.
In the video, which reportedly was recorded about a year ago, an English translation of Bocelli's chat with his Italian audience revealed, "A young pregnant wife has been hospitalized for a simple attack of appendicitis. The doctors had to apply some ice on her stomach. And when the treatments ended the doctors suggested that she abort the child. They told her it was the best solution, because the baby would be born with some disability."
But, Bocelli explained, "the young brave wife decided not to abort, and the child was born. That woman was my mother and I was the child. Maybe I'm partisan. But I can say that it was the right choice."
According to an Italian report, Bocelli's partner, Veronica Berti, was in the audience when Bocelli told the story last year.
"When I heard his words I had to leave because I was starting to cry," she said.
A spokesman for the singer told the London Guardian the doctors had feared their treatment could have jeopardized the unborn child.
Bocelli was born with a condition that left him partly blind, but doctors said it appeared to be unrelated to the treatment. He eventually lost his sight when he was 12 after an accident while playing a sport.
Jason Jones of Human Rights, Education and Relief Organization in Los Angeles told the Guardian Bocelli's personal story was "one of the most beautiful, authentic things I've ever seen."
The recording was made for a special event set up by a children's welfare group with which Bocelli works.
Verastegui also has posted a video about his work to support life:
I Am Whole Life is a group that "acknowledges that issues that appear to be separate such as human sex trafficking, political violence, famine, abortion, female genital mutilation, euthanasia, pornography, embryo destruction and many others are actually related threats to the dignity of the human person."
"The Whole Life ethic recognizes that a threat anywhere to human dignity constitutes a threat to human dignity everywhere," the organization said on its website.
"The Whole Life ethic is dedicated to promoting and defending human dignity in all its stages. In the United States the biggest threat is abortion, other places it may be female genital mutilation, famine, forced sterilization or lack of civil rights."