Richard W Behling
Position statement regarding abortions and the use of public funds
September 13, 2010
I am a lifelong member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS) and subscribe fully to the position of God and His prophets on the sanctity of life. Regarding abortions:
“Our members are taught that, subject only to some very rare exceptions, they must not submit to, perform, encourage, pay for, or arrange for an abortion.”
“Our leaders have taught that the only possible exceptions are when the pregnancy resulted from rape or incest, or when a competent physician has determined that the life or health of the mother is in serious jeopardy or that the fetus has severe defects that will not allow the baby to survive beyond birth. But even these exceptions do not justify abortion automatically.” *
On demand abortion is mankind's pathetic attempt to avoid the consequences of wrong reproductive choices. Regarding this most physically obvious of personal morality issues, that most unfortunate of U.S. Supreme Court decisions, Roe v. Wade, 410 U.S. 113 (1973), created a legacy of cascading social error, wholesale destruction of human life, and incalculable moral harm to those who choose the "easy" way out. Beyond the morals arguments, there is no social justification for this practice. Not one cent of public funds should support the abortion practitioners, advocates, and industries that sprang up, or were legalized, in the wake of Roe v. Wade.
I would personally be overjoyed to see this pillar of evil demolished in my lifetime. Whether it is or not, millions of this generation will answer to their would-have-been children and to God, much higher powers than selfish indulgence and the erring SCOTUS.
There may not be much call to action in city council decisions, but my moral foundation stones of sanctity of life and accountability for one’s actions in life are set solidly.
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* Dallin H. Oaks, “Weightier Matters,” Liahona, Mar 2000, 15. From a devotional address given at Brigham Young University on 9 February 1999.
