A Virginia state lawmaker is setting the record straight about controversial comments he made on abortion.

Reports charge that Del. Robert Marshall, R-Manassas, said that disabled children were "God's punishment" to women for prior abortions.

Marshall is said to have made the remarks during a Feb. 20 press conference to oppose state funding for Planned Parenthood. Click here for Delegate Marshall's comments from Feb. 20.

Marshall has since come under intense fire for his comments. Advocates for the disabled have voiced outrage and some have called for Marshall's resignation.

But the Virginia delegate called the news reports unfair. He told CBN News that he never intended such an offensive suggestion and that he regrets his poorly chosen words.

"Admittedly, I went in and made extemporaneous remarks," Marshall said. "I could have used different words in describing medical complications."

"I used the words 'nature's vengeance' and I did refer to something in the Old Testament how some Christians could understand that if you had an abortion this might be a punishment for that," he said. "But that's nature, it's not God doing this."

Click here to watch the entire CBN News interview with Del. Robert Marshall.

*Original broadcast February 26, 2010.