Posted on 07/24/2008 12:10:30 PM PDT by Publius804
The Risk of Love
July 23rd, 2008
by Mark Shea
Recently a reader wrote me to say, “I read a story on the Internet about a Catholic couple whose new baby was diagnosed with spina bifida and anencephaly (no brain). They chose to abort it. How on earth would you deal pastorally with such a horrible situation?”
Such questions involve several parts. What does God think? What would I do? What should I make of those people over there? We feel torn between obeying God’s commands “Don’t kill” and “Don’t judge.” And in our culture, “Don’t judge” has much the louder voice because of the great terror of “imposing our values”.
(Excerpt) Read more at catholicexchange.com ...
In the times of the Catholic Church’s tenets being recorded, a child born without a brain wouldn’t have been an issue and death after birth would happen most likely.
Now it is a question of is it viable? I am so torn on this issue. Where is the line? But I do not know that I wouldn’t abort a child who has no brain. There is no reason to risk the mother’s life for it to be born. Of course it is the couple’s choice, but I wouldn’t want to have blessings (not sure what it is called) denied for aborting.
I’m sorry, I am truly Pro-life. But truthfully, this is exactly what the Roe V. Wade should have been for. Not willy nilly I don’t feel like taking birth control abortions.
I honestly don’t know what I’d tell these people.
There is NO risk in love.
In aborting their baby, this couple choose to put their faith in science rather than with the Almighty, the Giver of all life.
Of course, that’s just my opinion.
Um... I don't think science had anything to do with it. They were just selfish and didn't want to be responsible for it or at least give it up for adoption.
Viability is not and can never be an issue.
You don't murder someone because he is disabled, end of story.
That’s what I meant by being conflicted on it. But you are correct, no baby is viable on it’s own. However being born without a brain means never being viable. Ever.
Regarding the spina bifida, this is anecdotal. In my life I've known two people of the spina bifida persuasion. Both convinced me I haven't yet ever experienced a real problem in my life. Both were also able to exist with Life, Liberty AND the pursuit of happiness.
This is also anecdotal. I have known a couple of people in my life that HAVE had abortions. One became suicidal. The other behaves in a way that if she had gone to war dressed as a seargent, I would say she suffers from delayed stress syndrome. I wouldn't wish the second thoughts associated with abortion on my worst enemy.
None of us is viable. Death comes to each and every one of us.
The timing of death is just a detail.
You may want to research how former Senator Rick Santorum and his family dealt with a similar situation.
The first time I heard him tell his story, my expectant wife had just gotten a positive test result for trisomy 18. After hearing Senator Santorum’s story, we knew we would be willing to put it in God’s hands and see the pregnancy through.
It turns out the test was a false positive. Our perfectly healthly daughter turned 9 this past year.
Wow. Thank God your daughter is fine.
I would certainly get second or even third opinions...
I don’t want people to think I am for abortion, because I am not. I guess I just think of childbirth being risky, even today. And if I have two or three other children who are alive and well, to think of them losing a mother for a child who would not even be able to eat or drink, ever.
Just a tough situation for anyone and anyone who goes through this has my sympathies.
But I am glad your daughter turned out fine.
Bless you.
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