God trusts us to make birth control decisions

In her July 28 letter, Layna Woods expresses the belief that all contraception is wrong. Babies truly are a miracle. But, sadly, the situation of pregnancy isn’t desirable or timely for everyone. In a realistic world, unmarried sex is a fact. Conception happens. Isn’t contraception preferrable to abortion?

As to the health of a mother, in a realistic world a woman can sometimes develop devastating health problems that can cause an advanced pregnancy to be fatal. So now she has to die rather than discontinue a pregnancy that she very much wanted? She’s a viable human being too, often with other children dependent on keeping their mother alive.

A 12-year-old raped by her father shouldn’t terminate but carry to term?

Contraception doesn’t poison or murder a “baby.” It prevents fertilization of a female’s egg by a male sperm, thus preventing groups of cells from dividing and over a period of nine months growing into a complete baby. Oral contraception prevents ovulation and fertilization. That’s not even the beginning of a baby. (How far do we take this? Of all the sperms that miss entering an egg, have they been murdered? If an egg isn’t fertilized every month because a couple didn’t conceive, is that egg a dead baby?)

I believe God has many more important considerations and trusts each of us to make our own choices about mundane things like birth control.

Carolyn Shugar

Las Vegas

Running Mitt

To the editor:

After watching and listening to Mitt Romney for quite awhile, I get the impression that he thinks he is entitled to be president of the United States just because he has been successful and is wealthy.

He avoids talking to the press and, when he does, he refuses to answer difficult questions. He accuses others of misinterpreting him when he makes mistakes. Does he not realize that no one will hand him the keys to the White House and he will have to face the electorate in November?

He cannot buy this election so he must answer questions and say more than that he can do better than the current president.

If he is elected, Mr. Romney will have to work with Congress, whose members will have their own agendas and ideas. They will not automatically agree with him and approve his plans. And he cannot fire them if they oppose him.

He will also have to work with leaders of our allies and enemies who will put the interests of their own countries far ahead of those of the United States. Will he understand that and be able to deal with them?

The presidency is not some prize in a cereal box. It affects all of us – from the wealthiest to the poorest – and we must be sure we are choosing the best person for the job.

Judith Lachance

Las Vegas