Life Issues: September 2008 Archives

LA Times: Canadian doctor warns Sarah Palin's decision to have Down baby could reduce abortions

But a senior Canadian doctor is now expressing concerns that such a prominent public role model as the governor of Alaska and potential vice president of the United States completing a Down syndrome pregnancy may prompt other women to make the same decision against abortion because of that genetic abnormality. And thereby reduce the number of abortions.

Published reports in Canada say about 9 out of 10 women given a diagnosis of Down syndrome choose to terminate the pregnancy through abortion. [emphasis added]

...Dr. Andre Lalonde, executive vice president of the Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists in Ottawa, worries that Palin's now renowned decision may cause abortions in Canada to decline as other women there and elsewhere opt to follow suit.

He says not every woman is prepared to deal with the consequences of Down babies, who have developmental delays, some physical difficulties and often a shortened lifespan.

I don't even know what to say...Is this all reactionary, or were people this sick before and now they feel the right to vent their evil?

HT: Catholic and Enjoying It! combox

Jill Stanek Has excellent commentary surrounding the announcement of Bristol Palin's pregnancy:

The announcement was wonderful, in sharp contrast to Obama's thought of his own grandchild who might be conceived in a similar situation:

Our beautiful daughter Bristol came to us with news that as parents we knew would make her grow up faster than we had ever planned. We're proud of Bristol's decision to have her baby and even prouder to become grandparents. As Bristol faces the responsibilities of adulthood, she knows she has our unconditional love and support.

Bristol and the young man she will marry are going to realize very quickly the difficulties of raising a child, which is why they will have the love and support of our entire family.

I keep coming across comments such as these (I quote The Superficial because it's not as if I read The Daily Kos, or any other such stomach turning website):

I know the knee-jerk reaction will be to point out the hypocrisy of Governor Palin's faith-based public views on supporting abstinence-only education and overturning Roe v. Wade.

So what's hypocritical exactly? Do we know for a fact that Bristol only attended abstinence-only schools and only associated with people who attended abstinence only schools, from families with the same values? Somehow from the tone for her boyfriend, truly doubt it:

Johnston, 17, who is entering his senior year at Wasilla HS, plays on the school hockey team and was once teammates on a youth squad with Palin's older brother, Track, 19, now in the Army.

Despite suffering a cracked bone in his shin last season, Johnston scored 24 goals in 24 games.

"We don't want to talk about this," said a woman who answered the phone at the Johnston home.

On a MySpace page subsequently taken down, Johnston boasts, "I'm a f - - -in' redneck" who likes to snowboard and ride dirt bikes.

"But I live to play hockey. I like to go camping and hang out with the boys, do some fishing, shoot some s- - - and just f - - -in' chillin' I guess."

"Ya f - - - with me I'll kick [your] ass," he added.

He also claims to be "in a relationship," but states, "I don't want kids."

As horrible as it is to state, speaking from experience, this sounds like the same Mr. Wonderful that have been getting 17-year old girls in trouble since the advent of high school. Which is the reason why we still need abstinence-only education. Cassanova doesn't get, if he doesn't want kids, don't have sex. 12 years of school, somewhere he missed that lesson. Besides is the guarantee of abstinence-only education simply that no teen will ever make a mistake again? So are we trying to claim the traditional PP sponsored sex ed programs are so effective?

Also, what is hypocritical about Sarah Palin being pro-life, and her daughter keeping the baby?