Ben,

I won't call you "dear", because I consider you anything but.

Instead, I think I'll call you "arrogant asshole." That's what I consider anyone who judges the entire world by his religious beliefs, after all. And that's what you did on Saturday. Your religion -- as misguided as I feel it is -- says that birth control is wrong. That while God gave us the ability to learn how to prevent overcrowding on this planet, we're not supposed to use the gifts God gave us. I don't remotely understand that argument.

But it's what you believe. Fine.

However, to state that folks who disagree with you are "selfish" is the pinnacle of arrogance. Did you even think about why a woman might use birth control? I rather doubt it.

I take it that you consider it selfish to avoid pregnancy when at a point in her life when she doesn't feel qualified to raise a child? And it's equally selfish to avoid pregnancy if her husband isn't ready yet.

And of course, it's selfish to avoid pregnancy when just getting started financially. After all, it's far better to have kids you can't afford to raise. I'm sure that will give everyone a good standard of living and do a lot of good for America as a whole.

How about women whose doctors have told them getting pregnant would be medially risky? But those women are just selfish for taking care of their own health.

God gave us intelligence. Some people believe She would prefer we use this gift wisely. Some people believe that bringing more babies into an overcrowded Earth is not wise and shows a lack of regard for this fine planet She has given us.

But of course, you must believe those people are wrong. And worse, that they're selfish for having their beliefs. That they are selfish for trying to nurture the gifts that She gave us.

People like you, Ben, disgust me. All that fine education. One presumes you are capable of looking at the world around you. One presumes that you have the ability to at least try to understand viewpoints other than your own.

And it deeply saddens me that you choose to ignore the gifts God gave you, but instead judge other people in Her name.

I'm sorry, you don't have that right. That's one gift She has not given you, or any of us.