Wednesday, September 4, 2002

In Dr. Gregory Moffat's recent column, I detected the distinct odor of the eugenics of early 20-century Europe and America.

Dr. Moffat is concerned that too many "ill-prepared" parents are having children, something that leads to abuse and mistreatment. While I agree with him that parenting is of paramount importance in and to our society, I wonder about how far Dr. Moffat would take his concerns?

He advocates using birth control to prevent unwanted babies. How far does this go? Should we force poor or unwed mothers to use contraception? What if the contraception fails? Do we then turn to abortion to prevent such unwanted pregnancies? How about forced sterilization of undesirables?

I have no doubt that Dr. Moffat would not go as far as I suggest. But his ideas logically lead to those extremes. Margaret Sanger, founder of Planned Parenthood, and Hitler had the same ideas, only they expanded their list of undesirable parents to entire ethnic groups and nationalities.

We need to reacquire a view of the family and child-bearing as something instituted and made sacred by God Himself. The degree to which we accept this concept is the extent to which we will see it manifested in society.

Trey Hoffman

Sharpsburg

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