Wesley J. Smith: Mandatory Testing for Down Syndrome Coming to France?

First Things/Secondhand Smoke ^ | 5/22/11 | Wesley J. Smith

[wagglebee]

Wouldn’t it be nice if the purpose of pushing prenatal testing for Down syndrome was to assure that fetuses testing positive would be later welcomed into the world in full preparation for the medical challenges that sometimes arise in babies with the condition? Of course, the real point is to make sure that as many as possible are not allowed to be born.  And now France is thinking very seriously about requiring that all pregnant women be tested regardless of risk factors–that is, legally requiring–not just recommending–a medical procedure so that no babies with Down slip through undetected.   From the blog, Curse of Our Joy:

France already has an abortion rate of 96% once Down syndrome is detected through pre-natal testing, universal testing would be catastrophic to this population and to human rights in general, setting off a possible chain reaction throughout Europe. Below is a translation of the original letter from the Foundation Lejeune.

On May 25 and 26 of this year, the National Assembly [the lower house in the French Parliament] will resume its debates and votes concerning the proposed bioethics law. If the deputies follow the recommendations of the Senate and the Special Committee on Bioethics, the pendulum will swing, in the next few days, and France will implement a policy of eugenics with regard to infants with Trisomy 21 (Down syndrome.) Because all of us are vulnerable and called to show solidarity with those who are a little more so, we cannot accept this or let it happen.

Yea, gotta stop that 4% that make it through the eugenic filters! Liberté, égalité, fraternité, my right nostril.

I will try to check out this story further and report back.

HT: E. Haupt

Update: Commenter Raven says the bill would require counseling be offered, not conducted, with a link to the French Assembly.  If anyone can speak French and would like to translate, that would be great.

But the purpose of the bill I think is as the blogger I quoted suggests–to increase the already sky high abortion rate of fetuses testing for Down, dwarfism, etc.  There is a strong pre natal eugenic drive in the West and pushing for more testing serves that agenda.  Of course, testing can also serve to make such births easier to prepare for, as Sarah Palin said her test did.  But note, one Canadian medical leader worried that her lead would cause fewer women to abort Down babies:

But others fear Ms. Palin’s emergence as a parental role model sends a different message. As a vocal opponent of abortion, Ms. Palin’s widely discussed decision to keep her baby, knowing he would be born with the condition, may inadvertently influence other women who may lack the necessary emotional and financial support to do the same, according to André Lalonde, executive vice-president of the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada. Dr. Lalonde said that above all else, women must be free to choose, and that popular messages to the contrary could have detrimental effects on women and their families. “The worry is that this will have an implication for abortion issues in Canada,” he said…

“It’s very dark,” said Krista Flint, executive director of the Canadian Down Syndrome Society. “They hear a lot about the medical conditions that are sometimes associated with Down syndrome. They hear about the burden … it places on children and a marriage. They hear about things like shortened life expectancy. They hear a lot about the challenges of a life with Down syndrome.” That’s why Ms. Palin has become an example that could possibly stem the tide of families who abort fetuses after a positive determination for Down syndrome, she said. “We know overwhelmingly the message families get is ‘Don’t have this baby, it will ruin your life,’ and I don’t think people would look at Sarah Palin and see a ruined life,” Ms. Flint said. “Regardless of politics, I think it’s a good example.”

I also believe that a societal expectation for that course–abort the “defective–is being forged.  That is a major purpose behind these testing proposals and a reason why some loathe Palin so deeply–as we have discussed at length on several occasions.

[Brian Kopp DPM]

It is the weight of man’s sins which causes natural disasters not the punishments of God.

I do not disagree with this, though it is somewhat a matter of semantics.

I truly believe that a Godly people is protected from the natural disasters inherent in our fallen world by God's Mercy. As long as we abandon ourselves to His Providence, pray, and try to live moral faithful lives, He does provide.

When for all intents and purposes, we live as if God does not exist, and act as if we have to provide for ourselves and God's laws do not matter, we have stopped trusting in Him, and He respects our decision not to Trust and believe, and lets us to our own devices.

Human ingenuity might be able to increase crop yields short term, and provide some amazing technology, and deliver some advances in medicine and other sciences. But our puny intellect and advances cannot protect us from the cataclysmic events inherent to our fallen world and fallen nature.

I truly believe it is the weight of man’s sins which causes natural disasters, not the punishments of God per se. These disasters come from God's permissive will, not His active will.

When man ceases to believe in God's providence, he begins to believe he has to provide for himself. When a state is atheistic in practice, even if not literally, that state believes it must provide for its subjects, not God. Such a state, lacking grace, quickly descends to seeing mouths to feed as an insuperable burden, and eventually, gets around to eliminating mouths to feed.

Such a state eventually becomes atheistic not only in practice but also belief.

And because atheism itself is a lie and a deception, a mere mask for the demonic (even if its adherents deny the existence of such), any truly "atheistic" state eventually devolves to demonic fury against its subjects, especially the innocent. The demonic despises the innocent, because in the face of the innocent is reflected the image of God, which the demonic hates most. Thus "atheistic" states will always descend to the demonic destruction of the innocent. (That ultimately is what the Georgia Guidestones and The Population Control Agenda in general is about.)

The Down's child is truly the face of innocence. Thus the world seeks to destroy it.

[aposiopetic]

Here are Fr. Cantalamessa's words:

Dobbiamo però raccogliere anche l’insegnamento che c’è in eventi come questo. Terremoti, uragani e altre sciagure che colpiscono insieme colpevoli e innocenti non sono mai un castigo di Dio. Dire il contrario, significa offendere Dio e gli uomini. Sono però un ammonimento: in questo caso, l’ammonimento a non illuderci che basteranno la scienza e la tecnica a salvarci. Se non sapremo imporci dei limiti, possono diventare proprio esse, lo stiamo vedendo, la minaccia più grave di tutte.

Said differently, if the calamity befalls the innocent along with the guilty, is it truly Divine retribution, or rather an admonition to repent? Consistent with the basis of this thread, the homilist implies we are most foolish if we look to science and technology to save us. Far from its proper moorings, and ever more likely when sci/tech is glorified rather than the One True God -- witness the mandatory testing and the attendant pressure to kill the innocent referenced in the OP -- sci/tech left to its own devices will be a law unto itself and lead to destruction.

[Quix]

Important points, imho.

Thx.

[Gandalf_The_Gray]

God won’t punish France and the French for this. They will do it to themselves.

That is a most wonderful insight!

Regards,
GtG

[Salvation]

**Mandatory Testing for Down Syndrome Coming to France?**

Sickening

[lastchance]

I may be splitting hairs but I do think natural disasters can be used as a chastisement by God. But I do not view this as the same thing as punishment. Why? Because we have a just God and though He surely chastizes us for HIs love’s sake, I believe He reserves punishment for those who have constantly ignored and defied His law.

Chastisement is meeant to return us to His Word and to make us humbly mindful of our own sins so that we turn away from them and seek out God’s love and mercy. It says we can still make the right choice.

Punishment is a matter of “you have had your chance, now tremble with dread as you see the irreversible course your life has taken.” It is I believe reserved for that dreadful day. For just as the love of God is all complete and not done in half measures the punishment of God shall be the same. Ate chastisements a glimspse of what we will finally face should we not heed their lesson? Yes, yes and yes.

They are for now the fire that tempers us. When God’s punishment comes it will the fire that does not die.

[Salvation]

Everyone needs to meet my Down Syndrome grandson. Thanks for pictures.

[lastchance]

“My youngest son, who is 28, has Down Syndrome. When he was born, I thought we had been cursed and I implored Panagia to tell me why. I was a fool. Thank God I got over that fear, because that’s what it was, within a few days. He was and is the greatest blessing I and my family and the small “ecclesia” around us have ever been given. He was born with Down Syndrome for the same reason that the blind man cured by Christ was born blind, so that the love of God might be made manifest in the world.”

Thank you for sharing your experience. What a beautiful tribute to your son and what a testament of your faith.

[Joya]

I recommend to each of you that you check the following, my archived references,

= = =

They aren’t just some old fogies’ outdoor art, they are an American Stonehenge, the Georgia Guidestones

http://www.radioliberty.com/stones.htm

= = =

Institute on the US Constitution

http://www.iotconline.com/

= = =

Envita Medical Centers of America

For treatment of Chronic Fatigue, Fibromyalgia, Lyme Disease, Autoimmune Disease, and Cancer

http://www.envita.com/

= = =

Heirloom seeds

http://www.seedcatalog.com/

= = =

Has FEMA bought all of their stock? Freezed dried food guy

http://www.freezedryguy.com/

= = =

Historic Symbolism

http://www.radioliberty.com/Symbolsandtheirmeaning.html

= = =

FBI terrorism task force pamphlet

http://www.radioliberty.com/fbipam.htm

= = =

Brave New Schools

http://www.radioliberty.com/kjos2.htm

= = =

### end ###

[Quix]

THANKS FOR THE LINKS.

[Mrs. Don-o]

Thanks for this, Kolo. It shows a beauty in God’s heart-— and yours.

[Kolokotronis]

"It shows a beauty in God’s heart-— and yours."

I am the chief among sinners, Mrs. D.

[Mrs. Don-o]

Chief? With so many in the running? =:oO

(But I know what you mean.)

[Quix]

So many are amongst the MOST loving, loveable and guileless human beings on the face of the earth.

They put the rest of the human race to shame in a list of the most important ways and factors.

May all those demonized folks against them repent speedily and change their ways—or suffer the fate they wish on the precious innocent ones.

[Conservativegreatgrandma]

I have a precious niece with Downs who is a far better human being than any Democrat. I despise anyone who thinks she is inferior in any way.

[Kolokotronis]

Thank-you for the kind words.

[Salvation]

Fortunately or unfortunately, my grandson has a wicked smile and he knows when he does something wrong — like taking his younger sister’s things.

Oldest grand-daughter and third grand-daughter are completely normal.

That took courage on my son’s and daughter in law’s parts to have a third child.

They were thinking about adopting a child with Down Syndrome from another country, but it turned out to be VERY expernsive.

God bless them!

[Conservativegreatgrandma]

Forgive them for they know not what they do but I am human and I can’t help but have a deep resentment for anyone who would advocate killing one of these precious people.

[Quix]

Oh, I know they are not sanctified and purely holy! LOL.

They are still plenty human.

Congrats on your son/daughter’s courage.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!