Was Fetus Replica Appropriate for Trick-or-Treaters?

A display at the event on Oct. 29 had some parents concerned about one of the contributors. With it being targeted toward children under 7, a “concerned mom” posted on a Patch story that she found the pro-life display “inappropriate and disgusting.” Along with the candy, the group was handing out a replica of a 12-week-old fetus.

“My son went up and asked what they were. Before I could intervene the gentleman took it upon himself to explain to my child that it was a 12-week-old fetus and that is what he looked like in mommy's belly,” she posted in comments. “I can understand people's choices, but this was not the time nor the place to be explaining this and to be passing out these fetus dolls. This was something that was supposed to be geared towards school-age children.”

The fetus dolls were handed out by pro-life group Project:Ignite Global Ministries, a non-profit ministry that operates through “pursuit campaigns” to promote activism among Christians with a focus on pro-life activism.

In a story in the Walton Tribune, it was reported that Trick or Treat organizer Laura Ellis said she believed the group handed out candy as well and that they did not hand out the fetuses without parental permission.

However, the concerned mother who posted on Patch said her son asked what the fetus was and she did not have time to intervene before her 3-year-old son was given an explanation she thought was inappropriate for someone his age.

“There is a time and place for everything and whoever headed this group was apparently mistaken at what type of environment is appropriate to pass out little rubber 12-week -old fetuses,” she wrote. “Maybe monitoring what will be handed out should go into effect for next year. From that gross representation, I most likely will not attend next year.”

Do you think handing out a replica of a 12-week-old fetus was inappropriate for a Trick-or-Treat event for young children?