A Political ‘Fetus’

Re “State Law on Killing of a Fetus Expanded,” April 6: Fetus? A generation or so ago that word resided comfortably as arcane jargon in scientific textbooks and medical journals. It was then yanked out into the arena of political correctness to dehumanize what for centuries the English language correctly called an “unborn baby.” In more than 35 years as a Catholic priest serving in half a dozen parishes ranging from the suburbs to the inner city, I have never heard an expectant mother speak of “her fetus.” Common sense knows the humanity and individuality of the life developing in the womb -- and knows what to call it.

The Rev. Thomas Welbers

Our Lady of the Assumption Church, Claremont