CMSA Newsletter Submissions

If anyone is interested in submitting an article for the CMSA newsletter, you can email me at catholicmedstudent@gmail.com.  Articles should be around 500 words.  If you have an idea, let me know!

In Christ,

Brian

Vatican Backs Stem Cell Research

I hope that the title of this post caught your attention. It was supposed to.  I thought that employing the same tactics of the main stream media might help spread the message a bit.  That tactic being, of course, to leave ambiguity in regards to what type of stem cells are being used.  In this case, it would be ADULT stem cells.  So here is part of the story:

ROME – The Vatican is pushing for research of adult stem cells as an alternative to the use of embryonic stem cells, which the Catholic Church opposes because it maintains that the destruction of the embryo amounts to the killing of human life.
On Friday, the Catholic Church threw its support and resources behind the study of intestinal adult stem cells by a group of experts led by the University of Maryland School of Medicine. The group wants to explore the potential use of those cells in the treatment of intestinal and possibly other diseases, and is seeking an initial euro2 million ($2.7 million) to get the project going, officials said.
"This research protects life," Cardinal Renato Martino said during a meeting with Italian and American scientists and health officials to outline the project. "I want to stress that it doesn't involve embryonic stem cells, where one helps oneself and then throws the embryo away and kills a human life.".....

....In 2007, Pope Benedict XVI said the Catholic Church can encourage somatic stem cell research — also known as adult stem cell research — "because of the favorable results obtained through these alternative methods," and more importantly because it respects "the life of the human being at every stage of his or her existence."

"Ethically, the rules the Catholic Church promotes are really very simple: That all research be respectful of human life," said Father Bob Gahl, an American professor of Moral Philosophy at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross. "Nobody should be killed in the process of doing medical research. So this new project falls exactly within the Catholic Church's ethical guidelines."
Dr. George Daley, a stem cell expert at Children's Hospital in Boston and past president of the International Society for Stem Cell Research, said both adult and embryonic stem cells may prove useful for treating different diseases.
"I applaud the Vatican for being interested in supporting biomedical research," Daley said Friday, "but I can't help but think there's an agenda."
He called intestinal stem cells "a very exciting area of basic research" but said therapeutic uses are only speculative at this point.

How quaint that this scientist would think there is an agenda behind the Vatican's support of this research.  Perhaps that agenda would be the continuation of ethical stem cell research, which has already shown so much promise and therapeutic application in the treatment of so many diseases?  Regarding his comment about the 'speculative' aspect of this research, it would appear that intestinal stem cells hold as much if not more promise than embryonic stem cells do.  It is unfortunate that a majority of scientists are so ideologically blinded by the desire to master embryonic stem cells (which have ZERO therapeutic application at this point) rather than supporting the continued research into the success of adult stem cells.

This step by the Vatican is wonderful, in regards to the relationship between science and the Church.  The Church has constantly supported the sciences that do not violate human dignity or the Law of God, and this is just another step in the great history of the Church. 

Sparse Blogging

I want to apologize to the few readers out there for not posting more regularly in the last few weeks.  I have my last exam before preparing for the Step 1.  So after Tuesday I hope to have more posts to put up, more frequently!  God bless!

Brian

UN and WHO ignore new maternal health numbers

More chilling news coming from the UN and WHO: Fund raising is more important that the Truth.

LONDON – The number of women dying in childbirth worldwide has dropped dramatically, a British medical journal reports, adding that it was pressured to delay its findings until after U.N. meetings this week on public health funding.

A separate report by a group headed by the United Nations reached a very different conclusion on maternal mortality, saying the figure remains steady at about 500,000 deaths a year.

The disagreement reveals the politics behind public health, where progress made in tackling a health problem can jeopardize funding. Public health officials are gearing up to ask for billions of dollars this week at U.N. meetings .

The British medical journal Lancet rushed out a paper on Sunday that found the number of women who die in pregnancy or childbirth has dropped by more than 35 percent over 28 years.

Richard Horton, editor of the Lancet, said he was disappointed when maternal health advocates pressured him to delay publishing the report until September, after several critical fundraising meetings. He also wrote a commentary in Lancet on the pressure.

"Activists perceive a lower maternal mortality figure as actually diluting their message," he told The Associated Press on Wednesday. "Advocacy can sometimes get in the way of science."

He did not name any group or individual who tried to pressure him.

In their paper, Christopher Murray and colleagues at the Institute for Health Metrics at the University of Washington found that maternal deaths have fallen from about 500,000 deaths in 1980 to about 343,000 in 2008. The study in the Lancet was based on more data than was previously available in addition to statistical modeling and was paid for by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

It was a surprising finding for experts who have long assumed that little progress has been made in maternal health.

But on Tuesday, another report by the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health, a global alliance hosted by the World Health Organization, claimed progress in maternal health has "lagged." According to their "detailed analysis," from 350,000 to 500,000 women still die in childbirth every year. The authors did not explain where their data came from or what kind of analysis was used to obtain that wide range of figures.

In that report, U.N. officials also claimed they need $20 billion every year between 2011 and 2015 to save women and children in developing countries.

Dr. Flavia Bustreo, director of the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health, denied there was any conflict between her group's study and the Lancet study. She said her group was not involved in pressuring the journal not to publish Murray's study.

"The debate on numbers may continue," Bustreo said Wednesday. "But we welcome this as good news. There is hope at last for maternal health."

In the world of public health, good news can paradoxically be bad news. The more people who are dying, the more money U.N. officials can raise, making some experts less keen to acknowledge that a problem is not as bad as they once thought.

The U.N. is hosting a meeting of public health experts and heads of state on maternal and child health this week in New York, followed by another one in Washington in June.

For years, U.N. AIDS officials threatened that the epidemic would spread among general populations in countries worldwide, and claimed more than 40 million people were infected. Money for projects fighting AIDS, meanwhile, grew exponentially.

When U.N. officials finally admitted they had been overestimating the numbers for years and dramatically revised their figures — down to 33 million — donors began to rethink their financial commitments.

Experts say public health figures need to be taken with a huge grain of salt, particularly when they come from people who are also soliciting funds for the campaign.

"The U.N. has a track record of inflating disease figures to keep the aid money flowing, so I'd probably place more faith in the figures which show a lower disease burden," said Philip Stevens, of International Policy Network, a London think tank. "This is yet more confirmation that whoever paints the most apocalyptic picture gets the most cash, even if they have to manipulate and spin the data."

  

It is unfortunate, but not surprising that money is influencing research.  What is particularly frustrating (but again not surprising) is that it is occurring at the level of the United Nations.  When we know that money is influencing the release of information, how can we trust the decisions and justifications for emphasizing one aspect of public health over another?  Moreover, in regards to maternal health, it is clear that the same individuals and groups promoting maternal health at the UN are also deeply involved with population control.  It is my opinion that the reasons for trying to withhold the information about the decrease in maternal death is because the fundraisers do not want to slow down their attempts at population control.   We need to stay informed with what is going on behind the scenes, both on the international level as well as within our own country. 

The Gianna Center: Offering Authentic Women's HealthCare

 

I wanted to pass along this news to anyone who is interested:

First, some background: 

At The Gianna Center, we are delighted to offer a new, exciting approach to women's healthcare.  We combine comprehensive primary care with specialized gynecologic care and serve women with a deep committment to honoring their dignity and the sanctity of human life. 

We are the first women's healthcare center in New York City to make an explicit committment to following the teachings of the Catholic Church in the provision of our healthcare services, and we look forward to providing these services to all women, regardless of their faith tradition or personal beliefs.

Our mission is simple -- to acknowledge the dignity of all women and to provide exceptional, prolife healthcare for women.  Our goal is to be of service to you.  We look forward to serving your healthcare needs.

 Second, a message from the founder:

 

Hello Everyone,

What a roller coaster this Lent has been for us at The Gianna Center!

 

In February, just 3 months after the Grand Opening of the Center in Midtown Manhattan, we were notified that funding for the Center was being cut by St. Vincent's Hospital as part of their restructuring efforts to keep the last Catholic Hospital in NYC open.

 

On Easter Monday, in a true experience of Easter Resurrection, The Gianna Center opened again as a privately owned medical practice which will continue to provide 100% prolife, Catholic healthcare for women and couples in New York City.

Our services will continue uninterrupted, including general medical care and gynecology, prenatal care, and NaProTechology medical and surgical consultations and services.  Dr. Beiter and I will continue to work full-time out of our office at 15 East 40th Street and Dr. Beiter will continue to perform surgery at another hospital here in New York.  Plans are also in place to extend the services of the Center to include psychological counselling services, faithful to the teachings of the Church, in the next few weeks.

 

Please check out our new website www.giannahealth.org for information and updates.

 

As we announce our new ownership, I am also excited to announce an incredible event coming this May.

 

On Monday May 17, 2010, Pierluigi Molla, the son of St. Gianna, our Center's patron saint, will be joining Archbishop Dolan for a morning blessing and enshrinement of a relic of St. Gianna at The Gianna Center at 10 am.  All are welcome, and we would love to see you there.

 

That Monday evening, a Mass will be offered for the intention of healing for couples struggling with infertility.  The Mass will be held at a location to be announced and will include the opportunity for everyone present to hear about St. Gianna's life from her own son and to recieve a blessing with St. Gianna's relics.  Please consider coming out to this Mass to show your prayerful support for couples suffering from what is often a hidden and painful cross.  More details will follow.

 

God is good -- in all things, at all times -- but most of all in the amazing work He does in the world through His people.  At this moment, as I announce the "new life" of The Gianna Center, I cannot help but thank the many, many people whose generosity and efforts on behalf of The Gianna Center made it possible for us to keep the Center going over the past 6 weeks, despite this tremendous set-back.

It would not have been possible to keep The Center going without each and every one of you -- and I thank you all!

 

God bless you.  We look forward to continuing to serve you in New York City!

 

Sincerely,

Anne Mielnik, MD

Founder, Gianna Healthcare for Women

 

 

He Is Risen!

GOOD FRIDAY

Then the whole assembly of them arose and brought him before Pilate. They brought charges against him, saying, "We found this man misleading our people; he opposes the payment of taxes to Caesar and maintains that he is the Messiah, a king."

Pilate asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?" He said to him in reply, "You say so." Pilate then addressed the chief priests and the crowds, "I find this man not guilty." But they were adamant and said, "He is inciting the people with his teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee where he began even to here."

On hearing this Pilate asked if the man was a Galilean; and upon learning that he was under Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod who was in Jerusalem at that time. Herod was very glad to see Jesus; he had been wanting to see him for a long time, for he had heard about him and had been hoping to see him perform some sign.

He questioned him at length, but he gave him no answer. The chief priests and scribes, meanwhile, stood by accusing him harshly. (Even) Herod and his soldiers treated him contemptuously and mocked him, and after clothing him in resplendent garb, he sent him back to Pilate.

Herod and Pilate became friends that very day, even though they had been enemies formerly. Pilate then summoned the chief priests, the rulers, and the people and said to them, "You brought this man to me and accused him of inciting the people to revolt. I have conducted my investigation in your presence and have not found this man guilty of the charges you have brought against him, nor did Herod, for he sent him back to us. So no capital crime has been committed by him.

Therefore I shall have him flogged and then release him." But all together they shouted out, "Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us." (Now Barabbas had been imprisoned for a rebellion that had taken place in the city and for murder.) Again Pilate addressed them, still wishing to release Jesus, but they continued their shouting, "Crucify him! Crucify him!"

Pilate addressed them a third time, "What evil has this man done? I found him guilty of no capital crime. Therefore I shall have him flogged and then release him."

With loud shouts, however, they persisted in calling for his crucifixion, and their voices prevailed. The verdict of Pilate was that their demand should be granted.

So he released the man who had been imprisoned for rebellion and murder, for whom they asked, and he handed Jesus over to them to deal with as they wished.

As they led him away they took hold of a certain Simon, a Cyrenian, who was coming in from the country; and after laying the cross on him, they made him carry it behind Jesus. A large crowd of people followed Jesus, including many women who mourned and lamented him.

Jesus turned to them and said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep instead for yourselves and for your children, for indeed, the days are coming when people will say, 'Blessed are the barren, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed.'

At that time people will say to the mountains, 'Fall upon us!' and to the hills, 'Cover us!' for if these things are done when the wood is green what will happen when it is dry?"

Now two others, both criminals, were led away with him to be executed. When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him and the criminals there, one on his right, the other on his left.

[Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, they know not what they do."] They divided his garments by casting lots.

The people stood by and watched; the rulers, meanwhile, sneered at him and said, "He saved others, let him save himself if he is the chosen one, the Messiah of God."

Even the soldiers jeered at him. As they approached to offer him wine they called out, "If you are King of the Jews, save yourself."

Above him there was an inscription that read, "This is the King of the Jews."

Now one of the criminals hanging there reviled Jesus, saying, "Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us."

The other, however, rebuking him, said in reply, "Have you no fear of God, for you are subject to the same condemnation?

And indeed, we have been condemned justly, for the sentence we received corresponds to our crimes, but this man has done nothing criminal."

Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."

He replied to him, "Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise." It was now about noon and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon because of an eclipse of the sun. Then the veil of the temple was torn down the middle.

Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commend my spirit"; and when he had said this he breathed his last.

The centurion who witnessed what had happened glorified God and said, "This man was innocent beyond doubt."

When all the people who had gathered for this spectacle saw what had happened, they returned home beating their breasts; but all his acquaintances stood at a distance, including the women who had followed him from Galilee and saw these events.

1/3 of Breast Cancer could be prevented (and probably more): UPDATED

While skimming the health news on FoxNews, I came across this article, and considering today is the Feast of the Annunciation (Happy Feast Day!), I thought it appropriate to address a pressing issue in woman's general and reproductive health:

Experts: One-Third of Breast Cancer is Avoidable

Up to a third of breast cancer cases in Western countries could be avoided if women ate less and exercised more, researchers at a breast cancer conference said Thursday — comments that could ignite heated discussions among victims and advocates....

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women. In Europe, there were about 421,000 new cases and nearly 90,000 deaths in 2008, the latest available figures. The United States last year saw more than 190,000 new cases and 40,000 deaths. A woman's lifetime chance of getting breast cancer is about one in eight.
Many breast cancers are fueled by estrogen, a hormone produced in fat tissue. So experts suspect that the fatter a woman is, the more estrogen she's likely to produce, which could in turn spark breast cancer. Even in slim women, exercise can help reduce the cancer risk by converting more of the body's fat into muscle.
Any discussion of weight and breast cancer is a politically sensitive topic, for some may misconstrue that as the medical establishment blaming victims for getting breast cancer. Victims themselves could also feel guilty, wondering just how much a factor weight played in their getting the disease.
Ian Manley, a spokesman for Breast Cancer Care, a British charity, said his agency has always been very careful about issuing similar lifestyle advice.
"We would never want women to feel responsible for their breast cancer," he said. "It's a complex disease and there are so many factors responsible that it's difficult to blame it on one specific issue."

The first issue to be addressed is the idea of responsibility.  If 1/3 of the cases of breast cancer are related to exercise and diet, then yes, women do need to take responsibility for their actions.  This is no different than the same responsibility we would put upon a smoker or excessive drink in the development of numerous cancers.  We do not need to be mean or harsh about it, but we do need to emphasize that our patients have a role in the development of some of these diseases.  We must encourage them to make appropriate lifestyle decisions that will help to eliminate some of these variables as potential causes.


The second issue I have with this article is the lack of discussion on oral contraception and breast cancer.

After studies several years ago linked hormone replacement therapy to cancer, millions of women abandoned the treatment, leading to a sharp drop in breast cancer rates. Experts said a similar reduction might be seen if women ate better — consuming less fat and more vegetables — and exercised more.

 If women stopped using oral contraception, could you imagine the drop in breast cancer rates?  It is very sad that main stream medicine and the media will not recognize the link between breast cancer and oral contraception.  Until that day, we will be fighting a losing battle in the prevention of breast cancer.  So when this issue comes up in class or the clinic, do not be afraid of the truth.  It just might save a woman's life.

For the most recent article on the topic visit http://www.mayoclinicproceedings.com/content/81/10/1290.full.pdf+html

UPDATE Another FoxNews article on breast cancer and pregnancy has me riled up again.  This time, the article focuses on the fact that pregnancy is SAFE for breast cancer survivors.  This is not what is frustrating, rather it is what aspect of the findings that are emphasized.  Here is the first part of the story: 

Pregnancy Safe for Breast Cancer Survivors

Women who have been treated for breast cancer can have babies without increasing their risk of dying from their cancer, according to research published by The Times Friday.
Studies being presented at the European Breast Cancer Conference in Barcelona suggest that pregnancy may even have a protective effect.
The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists does not advise against pregnancy, but recommends that women wait for up to five years after treatment, depending on the aggressiveness of the cancer, to allow assessment of long-term survival from the cancer.
A meta-analysis of 14 trials, carried out by researchers from Belgium and Italy, shows that pregnancy is safe for breast cancer survivors. It covered trials that had taken place between 1970 and 2009, involving 1417 pregnant women with a history of breast cancer and 18,059 women with a history of breast cancer who were not pregnant.
Hatem Azim, of the Institute Jules Bordet in Brussels, said that the findings did not support the notion that hormonal changes associated with pregnancy could prompt a cancer to recur or become more aggressive.

This, of course is good news!  We want women who are breast cancer survivors to be able to have children and go on to have a full family life.  It is the next paragraph that frustrates me. (emphasis mine)

The analysis actually suggested that patients who became pregnant after a diagnosis of breast cancer had a reduction of 42 percent in the risk of death compared with those who did not get pregnant, Azim said.

A breast cancer survivor REDUCES her risk of death by 40% by having a child!  What amazing and wonderful news!  And yet, the reason why I am frustrated is because this paragraph is not the headline.  Think of how pro-life and pro-family this story could have been if the headline read something like "BREAST CANCER SURVIVORS REDUCE RISK OF DEATH 40% BY HAVING CHILDREN"

But of course, in our anti-family and anti-woman society, we cannot openly promote women having children because we don't want to 'overpopulate the world' or create 'burdens on women'. Instead of conforming to these ideas,  Let us continue to promote the truth in regards to God's design:  Children make women healthier! 


In Christ

Health Care Reform: A Catholic Medical Student's Perspective

I am sad.  Heartbroken, really.  I followed much of the discussion and debate this weekend and I was saddened to watch the will of the American people be thwarted by ideaology.  As a medical student, I am somewhat fearful nad uncertain of what the future of the profession holds.  Will this be a satisfying job? Or will I be weighed down by beauracracy and lose the ability to practice medicine as a Catholic physician?  There are many unanswered questions, and only time will truly tell how all of this will turn out.  One of the blessings of being Catholic is that I know that God is bigger than all of this.  We may be entering into a dark time in American history, or we may be seeing the darkness before the coming dawn.  The American people are fired up about this issue and I do not believe that fire will die out any time soon.  As Catholics, we have an opportunity to use that energy to fight for the repeal of this law and the implementation of true reform that will bring authentic, affordable health care to the American people.  There are so many things wrong with this bill beyond just the federal funding of abortion (no executive order can stop that).  This bill we cripple this country economically, destroy the patient-physician relationship, and horribly violates the principle of subsidiary.  However, as Catholics, we must first set our own house in order.

This is the time in which we must reclaim our Catholic identity.  This past week we watched as the Catholic Health Association and 59 leaders of women religious from around this country came out in support of the health care bill.  This was in direct opposition to the voices of both individual bishops and the USCCB as a whole who came out strongly against this bill until the very end.  This division within the Church has sown great confusion among Catholics and Non-Catholics.  I have had many non catholic friends come up to me and ask about this situation.  It almost feels as if we are to blame for not taking a stronger stand.  I know this is not completely true.  However, we have a mess that needs to be cleaned up.  In order to have the strength to over turn this egregious law, we must recapture our Catholic identity and make it known we will not stand for this law.  The time is now to renew our faith, to pray fervently, to frequent the Sacraments and spend time before the Blessed Sacrament.  We must be strengthened individually and as a Church in our faith and go forth and fight the good fight for what is right and good and true.

A Message from the Catholic Medical Association

 

March 18 Health Care Legislation Alert!

 

 

Dear CMA Members:

 

Starting on Monday of this week with the Catholic Health Association, a number of real and self-described Catholics have launched an all-out blitz against the U.S. bishops and in favor of Democrat health care legislation. These groups have targeted Catholic and pro-life legislators, telling them that the Senate bill (which the House of Representatives must pass unchanged) does not provide federal funding of abortion and/or, even if it does, the need for change is so great that legislators should support it anyway.

 

You can read some of their statements, and the CMA response, in our just released Statement on Health Care Reform and Authentic Catholic Witness.

 

Others have mounted a strong response as well:

• Faithful American women religious have posted their own statement of support for Catholic bishops and authentic health care reform
• The USCCB has exposed the fraudulent claims of one group of women religious
• The Vatican has issued  a statement upholding the teaching authority of the bishops
• Individual U.S. bishops have issued strong statements of condemnation and calls for retraction and repentance, including Archbishops Chaput and Naumann, and Bishop Finn.

Please distribute this action alert, and/or the CMA statement, to your colleagues, family, friends pastor, and local bishop.

 

Let us redouble our prayers and work together to achieve authentic health care reform.

 

Saints Patrick and Joseph, pray for us!

 

John F. Brehany, Ph.D., S.T.L.

Executive Director and Ethicist

 

Ite Ad Joseph!

Happy Solemnity of St. Joseph!

On this day, let us beseech the intercession of St. Joseph that the will of Christ may be done in this country, particularly in regards to health care reform:

Litany of St. Joseph V/ Lord, have mercy.
R/ Lord, have mercy.
 
V/ Christ, have mercy.
R/ Christ, have mercy.

V/ Lord, have mercy.
R/ Lord, have mercy.

V/ Jesus, hear us.
R/ Jesus, graciously hear us.

V/ God, the Father of Heaven,
R/ have mercy on us.

V/ God, the Son, Redeemer of the world,
R/ have mercy on us.

V/ God, the Holy Spirit,
R/ have mercy on us.

V/ Holy Trinity, One God,
R/ have mercy on us.

 R/for ff: pray for us.
Holy Mary,
St. Joseph,
Renowned offspring of David,
Light of Patriarchs,
Spouse of the Mother of God,
Chaste guardian of the Virgin,
Foster father of the Son of God,
Diligent protector of Christ,
Head of the Holy Family,
Joseph most just,
Joseph most chaste,
Joseph most prudent,
Joseph most strong,
Joseph most obedient,
Joseph most faithful,
Mirror of patience,
Lover of poverty,
Model of artisans,
Glory of home life,
Guardian of virgins,
Pillar of families,
Solace of the wretched,
Hope of the sick,
Patron of the dying,
Terror of demons,
Protector of Holy Church,

Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world,
R/ spare us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world,
R/ graciously hear us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world.
R/ have mercy on us.

He made him the lord of his household.
R/ And prince over all his possessions.

 Let us pray. O God, in your ineffable providence you were pleased to choose Blessed Joseph to be the spouse of your most holy Mother; grant, we beg you, that we may be worthy to have him for our intercessor in heaven whom on earth we venerate as our Protector: You who live and reign forever and ever. R/ Amen.

Pray and Pray Hard

As we come down to the end (hopefully) of this health care debate, this is the time to step up the prayers that this bill will fail.  I want to see health care reform just as much as the next individual, but this bill is not the answer.  As Catholics, let us stand with the Bishops in opposition of a bill that is anti-life, violates the freedom of conscience for providers, and is economically harmful.  If this bill passes nearly half of physicians in practice will leave health care.  There are numerous objections and the politics behind this bill are disgusting.  So I beg and urge you to pray that the Lord's will be done and that the unborn will be protected.

Hopefully more to follow....

Prenatal Testing- The continuation of the Eugenics movement

In the arena of prenatal care, there is one topic that perhaps is not discussed enough.  Prenatal screening has major ethical ramifications, typically ignored by many individuals in medicine.  Any tests performed, whether it is ultrasound or genetic, are not immoral in and of themselves, but rather the moral issue arises in what we do with the information obtained.  Given the information, there are three possible uses for it:
1) The parents use that information to prepare themselves for a child with a specific condition.  This may include spiritual and emotional preparation, as well as lining up the proper care once the child is born.
2) The doctors may be able to use the information to treat the child in utero.  With advances in microsurgery, there are cases of spina bifida being treated at an early age to increase the child's survival and quality of life.
3) The last option is the final option.  Abortion.  The information obtained can be used to make a decision as to whether to kill the child or not.

It is this last option that is the most common and most horrific.  Take for instance Down's Syndrome.  A recent BMJ article states "Around 92% of women who received an antenatal diagnosis of Down’s syndrome decided to terminate the pregnancy, and this proportion was constant throughout the period covered by the register."  For many of us, this may be something we were already aware of.  Yet, it is still horrific.  Down's Syndrome is not a death sentence, rather there are many individuals who are able to live happy and productive lives.  If any of you have had the blessing to know or work with an individual with Down's, you know that they are some of the most innocent and friendly individuals you may encounter.   So the question is, why are 9 out of 10 fetuses diagnosed with Down's terminated?  The answer: Eugenics.

Our society despises imperfection, at least, what they perceive to be imperfection.  This is especially true in regards to children.  Every family wants the 'perfect' child, and so any indication of disease, whether present or potential,  raises the specter of termination.  For many diseases, termination of a pregnancy is considered acceptable medical practice, and in many instances, is encouraged by physicians.  What does this say about those individuals in society who live with these diseases or disabilities?  What are we telling them when we are willing to kill off other people like them in the womb?  In my own opinion, this would seem to show a devaluing of their dignity and integrity.  We are telling them they are something less and don't deserve to live and the fact that they are alive is a mistake. 

When we are willing to kill off the 'imperfect' child, we are practicing eugenics, plain and simple. 

What are your thoughts?

Bishops Say "Pelosi Is Wrong"

Nancy Pelosi has been telling some whoppers of late, namely that the current health care legislation does not fund abortions.  She is even claiming that she is following the guidelines of the Bishops...well, the USCCB has responded.  From Catholic World News:

Health-care proposal does fund abortion, says spokesman for US bishops March 02, 2010

A spokesman for the US bishops' conference has flatly contradicted the claim by Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi that the health-care reform plan now under discussion on Capitol Hill would not provide subsidies for abortion.
Pelosi had claimed:“There is no federal funding of abortion in this bill." She "talked to the Catholic bishops" about the issue, the Speaker said, explaining that the legislation does not alter current policies regarding abortion coverage."
Responding to a query from CNSNews, Richard Doerflinger, the associate director of the US bishops' pro-life office, countered: "We do not know how anyone who has spoken to the bishops could conclude that the Senate health care bill does not fund abortions."
Pro-life groups have consistently pointed out that the bill advanced by the White House would provide taxpayer subsidies for abortion in several different ways. The National Right to Life Committee described the White House proposal as "the most expansively pro-abortion bill ever brought to the floor of either house of Congress since Roe v. Wade. The group's analysis noted that the legislation "would allow direct federal funding of abortion on demand through Community Health Centers, would institute federal subsidies for private health plans that cover abortion on demand (including some federally administered plans), and would authorize federal mandates that would require even non-subsidized private plans to cover elective abortion."
The latest letter to Congress from leaders of the US bishops' conference called for passage of a reform plan that would protect human life from conception to natural death. The letter did not address the merits of any particular piece of legislation.
Source(s): these links will take you to other sites, in a new window.

• U.S. Catholic Bishops Conference Contradicts Pelosi's Claim That Senate Health Bill Doesn't Fund Abortion (CNSNews)
• US bishops renew push for health care reform (CWN 2/25)
• Senate Health Bill Would Become Even More Expansively Pro-Abortion (NRLC)

Please, take the time to contact your congressmen and senators, and tell them this is unacceptable!