"A Prairie Home Companion," National Public Radio

In an ideal world, where all parents would be responsible and loving, it wouldn't be necessary for legislators to write laws that would allow girls to avoid telling their parents they are about to have an abortion.

But in the real world, where a father can be responsible for his daughter's pregnancy and where sometimes neither parent has much concern for her, it is the responsibility of the state to protect her right to end a pregnancy that is the result of incest.

That's why a provision in HB85 makes no sense. It would require parents to be notified when an underage girl has sought a judicial bypass, which allows a court, instead of her parents, to give consent. The bill would require doctors to get at least one parent's permission before performing an abortion on a minor. It allows a judicial bypass for a girl who is pregnant as a result of incest or who fears she will be further abused if her parents are told.

To then require doctors to notify such parents before the abortion can take place would be illogical, a violation of the girl's trust and, very likely, unconstitutional.

Sponsoring Rep. Kerry Gibson of Ogden and Sen. Darin Peterson of Nephi, both Republicans, are determined to protect the right of parents - even the worst kind of parents - to have a say in what happens in their daughters' lives.

A parent who has had sex with his daughter and made her pregnant no longer deserves that right.

At the heart of this morally indefensible legislation is a belief of many Republican legislators that any law that ultimately prevents an abortion, under any circumstances, is a good law. They are wrong.

Abortion is a constitutional right, despite what Sen. Chris Buttars believes, and, in the case of incest, is often the only way to save the mental health of the victim.

Not all pregnancies, as Buttars says, are the result of a woman's - or, in these cases, a girl's or child's - irresponsible decision to have sex. Forcing a victim of incest to carry the baby to term - which is what this bill is meant to do, make no mistake - would be a terrible and tragic punishment that would only compound the misery she has already endured.