Virginia lawmaker, Bob Marshall, recently made headlines by making the following statement.
“The number of children who are born subsequent to a first abortion with handicaps has increased dramatically. Why? Because when you abort the first born of any, nature takes its vengeance on the subsequent children. In the Old Testament, the first born of every being, animal and man, was dedicated to the Lord. There’s a special punishment Christians would suggest.” (my emphasis added)
Mr. Marshall's statement is both offensive and inaccurate. I am the parent of a severely disabled child. How dare you demean my child by referring to children like her as a punishment. She wasn't born subsequent to an abortion but she was conceived as the result of an act of adultery. Would you suggest she also is a punishment from God for my sin?
I am also a Christian and I wouldn't suggest disabled children are a "special punishment". Perhaps Mr. Marshall should read what Jesus, himself, had to say on this issue. "1And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. 2And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? 3Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him." John 9:1-3 KJV
Maybe, if Mr. Marshall were to spend time around the disabled he might see what Jesus was talking about. Determination, perseverance, and overcoming in the face of obstacles are the bedrock of achievement. Who better among us to teach such qualities than the disabled? That's right, Mr. Marshall. Disabled children are a blessing, not a punishment.
Regardless of where you stand on the abortion issue, there's common ground to be found here. There are numerous quotes from famous people along the line of, the measure of a civilization is how it treats its weakest members. By this measure, this Virginia lawmaker has no business being a lawmaker at all as he seeks to reduce our most vulnerable members to the status of punishments.
Could not agree with you more...I wrote a blog about this man a week ago which was a lot harsher...his beliefs about the disabled and other groups cross every boundary of human decency. A very sad story which continues to arouse my rage...thank god, I'm not from VA.
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