Jose Feliciano, known for 'Feliz Navidad,' details pro-life conversion
Singer Jose Feliciano has expressed support for the pro-life movement, declaring that “even if all there is is a heartbeat, that’s life.”
Feliciano, who's blind and best known for his Christmas song “Feliz Navidad,” described his conversion to the pro-life movement in an interview with the National Catholic Register. “I used to be pro-abortion many, many years ago,” he recalled. “But then when I had my daughter Melissa, I went the other way … when I heard Melissa’s little heartbeat on the monitor, I said, ‘Well, wait a minute. Even if all there is is a heartbeat, that’s life.”
In addition to discussing his position on the issue of abortion, the 75-year-old Feliciano shared how his faith helped influence his career choice. When asked if God had a special plan for his life, he answered in the affirmative.
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“It seemed to me that before my parents read the Bible or did other things with me, God was pushing me into the music area. God was showing me the light ever since I was born," he said. “Somehow at that age when I would hear my uncles playing music [in Puerto Rico], it seemed that God was sending me a message, that he was steering me in that direction.”
“In one sight being blind helped because if I would have been sighted, I probably would have been playing stick ball in the streets and not listening to the message that God was giving which was music all the time,” he added. Feliciano recalled that when his father gave him a harmonica at the age of 4, he quickly developed an ability to play tunes on it.
“My mother would go in the kitchen and sob uncontrollably because it really looked like a miracle. When she was crying, someone said, ‘Listen, this has to be a sign from God,” he recounted.
Another person told Feliciano’s father, who was distraught about having a blind child, “Don’t worry about him being blind. You don’t know what God has in store for him for the future.” Looking back, Feliciano agrees, saying, “Truer words were never spoken!”
Feliciano’s conversion on the issue of abortion is not unique. Many other celebrities and political figures have credited the availability of ultrasound technology as the source of their conversion from pro-choice to pro-life.
Former Gov. Chris Christie, R-N.J., who unsuccessfully sought the Republican presidential nomination in 2016, explained that he had a pro-choice position on abortion until 1995, when his wife was pregnant with his daughter. “My wife and I went for a doctor’s appointment, and she was not showing at all at that point. And I heard that heartbeat really strong,” he said.
“It turned it for me. On that ride home, I said my position is not justifiable. That’s a life, and I cannot countenance the taking of that life.”
The opportunity to view an ultrasound of an unborn baby transformed Abby Johnson from an “employee of the year” at Planned Parenthood to an outspoken pro-life activist. When she was asked to assist with an ultrasound-guided abortion of a 13-week old baby, she “saw this baby fight for his life against the abortion instruments.” She said that before seeing the ultrasound image of the abortion taking place, she believed that “the unborn didn’t have any sensory development, didn’t feel anything.”
