Monday, February 22, 2010

are. you. serious?

Legislator: Disabled kids are God's punishment

Capital News Service

RICHMOND — State Delegate Bob Marshall of Manassas says disabled children are God's punishment to women who have aborted their first pregnancy.

He made that statement Thursday at a press conference to oppose state funding for Planned Parenthood.

"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," said Marshall, a Republican.

"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."

Marshall was among more than 20 people, mostly Christian pastors and clergy, who gathered for the press conference in the General Assembly Building.


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I mean, where does one start?

Actually, I'm starting to think that this doesn't deserve to be acknowledged.

But what makes me sick is the idea that anyone says children with disabilities are a punishment on their parents. That someone would say that to people- that someone would utter that out loud. How can those words even cross someone's lips?

Let me tell you about the beautiful and amazing the children I teach. How hard they work. How much they learn. How smart they are. How creative they are. The gifts they give to the world, each in their own way.

How can anyone say they are a punishment?

Where is it written in the Bible that God uses children as a punishment?

I can't even put together a coherent thought this makes me so angry.

9 comments:

Kids, Canines, and Chaos said...

There are no words to describe the hatred I feel for that man. I can only hope that karma will rear its ugly head and give him what he deserves.

kath. said...

i'm so upset right now. i can't believe people say these things in the middle of the 21 century.

but, i do have a theory on why this sort of atrocities are published. this man, having no clue (or perhaps fully aware) of the transcendental character of his words, said the things he said,and got press for a variety of reasons i won't be discussing but there's one i want to highlight:

there's an agenda against christianity. people are looking under the rocks to make christians look not only bad but horrible. and when someone, a pharisee like such, (who evidently missed out on a great chunk of the Bible where the tremendous grace, and love and mercy of God,is displayed, and where it clearly states that His creation is nothing but marvelous) says the monstrosities this man stood up to say without arguments, not even a cite of the Word... then of course press people won't let it fade away easily. i hope people realized that christians are too deeply offended, with such commentaries. The Lord of the Universe to whom we serve doesn't consider children with disabilities to be a punishment, BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT!!!!!! they are wonderful creations of His hands, crafted in His image, Jesus loves children, and wants them to come to Him. Just, know that those of us who really know Jesus not only disagree with this man, but we love children (disabilities or not).

techmuse said...

This is an unconscionable statement.

Rowan said...

As once was said, "One can keep one's mouth shut and be thought a fool or open it and remove all doubt."
Not a doubt left for this "person".

Joy said...

I agree with Kath. This statement is not in line with mainstream Christian thinking.

Jennifer said...

Wow. And he got elected? I mean, people chose this man to work in their government. Yikes!

Anonymous said...

The Bible does in fact say (in Exodus 34:7 among other references) that the iniquity of the fathers shall be visited upon the children, to the third and even fourth generation. And Deuteronomy 4:25 gives a similar warning.

I don't think like this man or his hearers do. But it is important to understand that literalist and fundamentalist interpretation of the Bible can find plenty of justification for this so-called "monstrous statement". There are more than enough monstrosities in the Bible to get away with saying this sort of thing.

My New Testament professor in seminary was once asked to justify her expression of support for gay marriage, when there are three uncontroversial verses demanding death or damnation for men who lie with men or women with women.

Her answer was simple. "Well, there are as you say, three verses dealing with the death penalty for homosexuality," she agreed. "But there are seven hundred fifty three references to God's mercy and kindness. And that's a lot more even than our need for repentance."

bunkobeth said...

The man needs to be impeached!

Anonymous said...

Mentally disabled legislators must be a curse on those who neglect to vote.