THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, February 7, 1997 TAG: 9702070004
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A14 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: 35 lines
I was moved by the article in the Jan. 30 Daily Break, ``A Child Unborn.'' I was moved both by the terrible situation faced by the Griffins with their child and by the emotional pain they have endured. However, I have three observations.
Why, when the condemnation of late-term abortions was being considered in the General Assembly, did The Virginian-Pilot only present an example of one side of the story? There are couples who face similar agonizing (i.e., the knowledge that the mother is carrying a severely deformed child) who choose to carry their child to term. And many of these parents are thankful for the moments or days or months or years they have with their children.
Second, the subheading of your article states, ``Don't judge, they say, if you haven't been there.'' This statement is in reference to Griffin's decision to end the life of their child. A person does not have to have experienced something to know if it is right or wrong. There are millions of Christians (as well as people of other faiths) who believe that God teaches that the taking of the life of any unborn child is wrong. We don't have to have ``been there'' to know it is wrong. Wrong is wrong. Which leads to my third observation.
Human life is sacred. Therefore, the life of every unborn child ought to be protected. Who but God can tell the good that might come from even the short life of a severely abnormal child? The choice is not ours; it is God's and God's alone.
DAVID B. HOWARD
Pastor
Brook Baptist Church
Virginia Beach, Feb. 3, 1997