To the editor:

In her “Your Turn” article (Journal-World, June 9), Jill Cannon chose a perfect scripture to illustrate God’s idea of freedom of choice. Jesus did not condemn the man who failed to honor His word. He let him walk away, “sad.” No judgment, no tirade, no new law to cover the man’s failure. True freedom honors the individual’s right to choose, provided the choice does not interfere with the lives/rights of others, or contradict the laws/will of God. Jesus did not say, “Go, sell what is your neighbor’s…” or “Go, force your neighbor to be like me….” That is against God’s own laws: “Thou shall not steal…,” “Thou shall not covet…,” “Thou shall not kill…”

The individual who wants something that impinges on the right of another, most especially in the matter of conscience, seems not to understand this. A woman is free to choose contraception and abortion under the laws of this country. She is not free to force those who believe contraception and abortion wrong to act on her behalf. There are many places for a woman to obtain what she wants and do so without interference. It is not right or just or necessary to insist others go against conscience to accommodate her.  

Freedom of choice applies to all. If you ask, and someone says, “No,” you go your way and they go theirs, each with the freedom to choose, and deal with the consequences of those choices.