ROANOKE TIMES 

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, March 28, 1992                   TAG: 9203300183
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-11   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

DON'T LET GOVERNMENT DILUTE PARENTAL RIGHTS

IT IS NOT only our right but also our moral and legal responsibility to care for our children. Abortions can have complications; medication to prevent infection must be taken; blood loss is imminent and emotional stress is likely. Parents have the right to information concerning their child's health and well-being.

The opposition says the parental-notification bill will not affect close families with open lines of communication, but rather will endanger girls in potentially abusive situations. The truth is that even teen-agers from loving, concerned families will and do seek abortions in secret.

If we allow government to undermine our rights and responsibilities as parents, we may one day no longer have children we can call our own. The state will determine that because some parents neglect and abuse children, no parent should have the authority to raise them and make decisions for them.

By law we do not allow our children to vote, consume alcohol, drive before age 16, fight in wars, etc. And we shouldn't allow abortion clinics to perform surgery without our notification. Imagine, you must give consent for your child to take a class trip to the zoo, but an abortion is considered none of your business. LISA A. FLEISCHHAUER VINTON 


 by CNB