13 years ago, Colleen Hauser decided not to have an abortion. For all I know the thought never entered her mind. She was likely overjoyed at the thought of having a child. She gave birth to a son, Daniel. Had she chosen to abort Daniel, the state of Minnesota would have defended her right to do so. In fact, even if she was a minor child and pregnant, she could have had an abortion under Minnesota law without her parents’ permission, provided she notified them.
Today 13 year-old Daniel has cancer and we pray for his recovery. According to incomplete reports, Daniel did not like the chemo treatment. Colleen and her husband happen to prefer natural remedies anyway and thus discontinued the chemo. The doctors went to a Minnesota court. The court appointed a guardian/advocate and ordered Daniel back to chemo. Colleen and Daniel flew away to California. They were ordered back and a media circus has ensued. The state asked a judge to remove Daniel from the care of his parents and to place him in state custody. The judge refused under the condition that Daniel’s parents agreed to resume the chemo. They agreed.
Again, we pray for Daniel’s recovery and this is not about the state’s right to protect young citizens from truly abusive parenting or in this case perhaps, even parents with good intentions. As a parent, I can’t even imagine what they are going through. Nor is it about debating which health protocol is the best. But we are struck by the hypocrisy of the State of Minnesota. The same state that would allow Daniel’s parents to kill him before he was born, now want to take him away because they think they can do a better job of defending his life.
Am I missing something?
