Lawmaker sorry for saying having child from rape is 'beautiful'

Maureen Groppe | USA TODAY

A West Virginia lawmaker has apologized for saying that while rape is awful, a child that results from a rape is beautiful.

The comment from state Rep. Brian Kurcaba was made Thursday when members of the West Virginia House of Delegates debated a bill to ban abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy. The bill does not allow for an exemption in cases of rape.

"For somebody to take advantage of somebody else in such a horrible and terrifying and brutal way is absolutely disgusting," Kurcaba said. "But what is beautiful is the child that could come as a production of this."

Kurcaba, a Republican from Monongalia, issued a statement Friday apologizing to "anyone who took my comments about the sanctity of human life to mean anything other than that all children are precious regardless of circumstances."

The group WV FREE, which opposes the legislation, is urging West Virginians to let Kurcaba know that "we're disappointed in his lack of compassion and understanding for rape and incest victims who choose abortion."

The Republican Party has had trouble in recent years with comments made by candidates and officeholders about rape.

A Utah lawmaker apologized this week after questioning whether sex with someone who is unconscious always amounts to rape.

After the issue tripped up two GOP Senate candidates in 2012, Comedian Stephen Colbert unveiled his "Days Without a GOP Rape Mention board."