Working to reduce abortions is never a waste of anyone’s time

Working to reduce abortions is never a waste of anyone’s time

I wish to respond to Tuesday’s editorial, “Abortion ‘heartbeat bill’ gives Ohio an onerous distinction.” One line, in particular caught my attention: “At a time when Ohio remains stuck in the muck of post-recession economic tumult, this is not the year to be wasting valuable legislative time tinkering with social reforms of any ilk.” Here’s my problem with that statement: Since when is working to end the direct and intentional killing of innocent human life a waste of time? And since when have economic concerns become more important than the direct and intentional killing of innocent human life?

The intelligent and caring legislators who seek to curb abortion do so because they perceive, and I think rightly so, that abortion is the direct and intentional killing of innocent human life. While the editorial staff of The Vindy may disagree, the burden of proof lies on them because all we know about medical science, from molecular biology to modern fetology, confirms that a fetus is human life. The child in the womb (and it is a child — ask any pregnant woman) has a unique human DNA structure, is living, and presents clearly discernible human features, as demonstrated by, among other organizations, National Geographic, using modern fiber optic cameras and four-dimensional computer enhancement in its classic documentary, “In the Womb.”

But let’s entertain the notion for a moment that despite the overwhelming scientific evidence carefully considered by the Ohio state legislators, that the editorial staff at The Vindy still disbelieve that abortion is the direct and intentional killing of innocent human life: the question remains: Then what is it that is in the womb? To say that abortion is the termination of a pregnancy simply evades the question. Such Orwellian double-speak does not present a sufficient answer. After all, any homicide could be described as a termination. My point is this: There are thousands of intelligent and caring people, scientists included, who consider abortion as the direct and intentional killing of innocent human life Perhaps one may disagree, though the logic of such a position escapes me. In any event, if one is truly open to the other side of the argument, one may not validly conclude that the discussion and subsequent action is a waste of time — in any economic climate.

Fr. Gregory Maturi, OP, Youngstown

The writer is pastor of St. Dominic Church.