Abortion contradictions

I came across an article last fall in a national publication that opened with the following paragraph: "In Ohio, a college student killed her baby immediately after the baby was born. The student was sentenced to life in prison without possibility of parole." Cases like hers prompt many of us to rethink our position on abortion. Is the murder of a newborn really so different from an abortion? Is it so different that it should land you in jail, for life?" The question begs an answer. After all. Emile Weaver. the college student referenced, could have aborted the baby weeks or even days before and some of us would understand. Kind of puzzling isn't it?

Another example of the contradiction in our culture is the story of "Baby Hope" that was covered in the Daily Herald about the same time. The newborn was abandoned in a wooded area of Wheaton. The baby was laid to rest in a burial ceremony held at St. Michael Cemetery by a local Catholic priest. Over 50 people attended, including police officers, public officials and heartbroken mothers. Many of those in attendance wiped away tears as they were looking at the small white casket. I wonder if the same tears are shed after a "procedure" at a Planned Parenthood Abortion Clinic. And if not, why not?

And yet again we have the situation where we readily agree that the killing of a pregnant woman be termed a double homicide with harsher prison sentences. A bit confusing isn't it?

Richard Kaiser

Elk Grove Village