To the editor:

Picture this: In one hand, Lady Justice holds a recently fertilized human egg seeable only with a microscope. The other hand holds my mother — or my wife — or one of my five daughters. Incredibly, the scale is balanced.

But no. I spy the heavy hand of the Catholic hierarchy weighing down the side making the fertilized egg of equal weight to the women in my life that I love. They who have fought so bravely to live loving, principled lives are having their right to plan the timing of their children ripped away by the Catholic Church.

The Catholic hierarchy is no longer in touch with its constituents. United States Catholics practice birth control and seek access to abortion in the same proportion as Protestants.

The Council of Bishops may hold on to their archaic views of sexual matters for their flock but when they try to impose those beliefs on the general populations, they open themselves up to well-deserved criticism. Their stated recent and past views on sexual matters are out of touch with reality and have led to shocking sexual behavior among their leaders.

All hail the great work of Catholic charities as they help the less fortunate who are in such great need. But The Council of Bishops must stop imposing their antiquated views of abortion and birth control on the rest of us.

Baird Bardarson, MD

Freeland