Are You Really Pro-Life?

Anyone would think this was scripted by a Hollywood writer, but it actually happened, according to the Orlando Sentinel. The story appeared in the October 5, 2017 paper on page A4. A pro-life Republican in the House of Representatives from Pennsylvania, Tim Murphy, is not seeking re-election now that certain facts have come to light.

First of all, he was unfaithful to his wife, having become involved with a woman named Shannon Edwards. A few personal details were left out of the Sentinel, except that Murphy is 65. Other sources reveal that Edwards is a psychologist half his age. Nothing was mentioned concerning Murphy and his wife\&md; if they are trying to work through this scandal or not.

But it gets more complicated because Murphy asked Edwards to get an abortion. What? A pro-life, pro-family Republican committed adultery and then asked the girlfriend to get an abortion? It appears so. Does that seem just a tiny bit hypocritical? Now many politicians are pro-abortion; so no one would raise an eyebrow if that sort of individual did the same thing. However, people should. A child's life is terminated in either case; it's just that no hypocrisy is involved in the one circumstance. Do we really want men and women governing us who will not protect human life\&md; particularly when it is most helpless\&md; in the womb?

The psychologist girlfriend released this text message back in January to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Edwards accused Murphy of having

zero issue posting your pro-life stance all over the place when you had no issue asking me to abort our unborn child just last week.

Although she is correct, she does not exactly come across as a noble person. She did know he was married when she became involved with him, since he is a public figure. And she did know that she could become pregnant as a result of their behavior. Nevertheless, she makes a valid point about upholding pro-life values publically while being willing to violate them in private. Nor does Murphy's response carry any weight when he said that it was his staff posting the pro-life messages. So what? They weren't posting anything he hadn't campaigned on.

Leaders of the House asked him to step down, although he thought he might survive his hypocritical actions. So, he is not running for re-election. Politically speaking, he would have been far better off, at the appropriate time, to announce to the public what he had done and asked for forgiveness. He could have said, "I was wrong; I will take responsibility and pay for the child's upbringing." Maybe he would have survived. Ironically, Edwards was not pregnant, after all.