I am a Christian, struggling to follow Christ’s gospel of peace, economic justice and the sacredness of all life. I believe abortion means that someone precious to God dies.

I am voting for John Kerry because I believe his policies will better lead us in the direction of Christ’s vision: A true culture of life, where women are assisted to lift their families out of poverty and are provided with the health care they need for safe, effective family planning and prenatal care. A culture of life where abortion is not illegal, but unnecessary, because we are truly caring for one another, not left isolated and alone.

As a Christian, I am confused when the president calls for a culture of life, while his decisions result in 4 million people slipping into poverty, 5 million more people left without health insurance, and the death of 12,000 Iraqi people and 1,000 American soldiers. Something has gone terribly wrong.

I am confused when the president insists that a desperate woman should surrender control of her body or risk her own health to spare one innocent life, while he rushes to sacrifice so many. He claims the privilege and the choice he would deny to her. Compare the consequences of her mistake and his.

I believe that John Kerry, with more cautious and compassionate judgment, can help us turn again toward the goals of equality of opportunity, caring for the disadvantaged and finding just ways of protecting all of God’s children.

Peg Hoffman, Lewiston