A Cardinal's view of abortion

I keep wondering how Catholics can claim to follow the teachings of their church while being pro-choice. No matter how much I read about "social justice" and other important issues facing Catholic voters, I keep coming back to "Just Look" from the Archdiocese of New York. No excerpts, because there's a picture you have to see.

This is really powerful

From Catholicvote.com.





I'd really like someone to explain to me why high-profile abortion advocates are not being excommunicated. People like Nancy Pelosi and Joe Biden. Why are they still allowed to take Communion when they so obviously flout the laws of their church? And looking at it the other way: they obviously disagree with this very basic doctrine of their church, so why do they still call themselves Catholic?

This should make you sick

A doctor in Canada is worried that abortions might decline because of Sarah Palin. Worried. That women will not abort their babies because they are not perfect.

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.

.....

Lalonde says his primary concern is that women have the....

...choice of abortion and that greater public awareness of women making choices like Palin to complete a pregnancy and give birth to their genetically-abnormal baby could be detrimental and confusing to the women and their families.

"The worry is that this will have an implication for abortion issues in Canada," Lalonde tells the Globe and Mail.

This is very worrying to me too. Because I wonder how far the idea of choice in terminating pregnancies in the quest for perfect babies will go.

I was way old when I had my kids. My chart (when I was pg with the first) said "elderly prima gravida" which means... way old to be having a first baby. I did have genetic testing (amniocentesis), because I don't like surprises. If I was going to have a baby with some genetic problems I wanted to know about it first. To research, you know? Prepare. Get ready. As if anyone is ever truly ready for a baby to drop into their lives, even a perfect one.

Then this year the one kid went through the neuropsychological testing and we found a boatload of "issues" that have had and will have an effect on his academic abilities. Like, mastering long division. And I'm reading up on all these learning disabilities (I'm sorry, differences, I keep forgetting) and I'm told I should go ahead and mourn for the perfect child that I wanted but don't have. And I'm thinking... mourn? I am rejoicing because "working memory deficiencies" are easier to think about than "bad at math." Specific problems with fine motor skills can be addressed, "hates to write" is a little tougher. Now we understand our boy. And some things we can fix, maybe.

But this is where we're at now. People are supposed to mourn their kid's AD/HD diagnosis. So what's up on the prenatal testing horizon? Once "they" eliminate all the Down Syndrome babies, who will be next? In 15 years, when my boy's as-yet-hypothetical wife is pregnant, will she be advised to abort the learning disabled child she's carrying?

Oh, I came across that article at Rachel Lucas, who is a super blogger - because I agree with her opinions and she's got some very cool dogs. But if you are offended by profanity, don't go there. (Though the linked post is remarkably profanity-free.) She's probably the most casually profane person I've ever "met." (Well, outside that one family member who shall remain nameless.)

Some Palin-related links

Well all weekend I have been snatching bits of time to collect Palin-related links, only to come home from the grocery store ($115 poorer, even with the $5 off $40 coupon, but having scored loads of cheap meat) and learn the new big news about the teen pregnancy in the fam.

The pregnancy story bothers me a lot. But I am optimistic about the possibilities here. Certainly the Palins are going to be living out their faith in a very public way. The seminarian expressed optimism (oh yeah) that this won't turn into a big deal because the press always stays away from the candidates' kids. I'm sure they will this time. Right?

Well, I was just about done so what the heck, maybe people who actually did something fun this weekend instead of gobble up news stories might be interested:

From Hot Air: Desperation from Democrats

From NOW: A press release reminding women that when they mean "women's rights" they really just mean the right to an abortion. (Found at Right on the Left Coast.)

Semi-related to that - I think it's funny how some people are gushing over Mrs. Palin's courage in not aborting her last baby even though she knew he had Down Syndrome. I guess they can't comprehend that for some people, killing the baby is simply not an option under consideration.

Sandy at Falling Like Rain has some comments about abortion. The links she provides might be interesting to you too, particularly if you are a Christian woman on the fence about a working mom in a high position in government.

Douglas Wilson is pastor of a Reformed church in Moscow, ID. I don't agree with every word that comes out of his mouth, though his books on marriage and childrearing are excellent. I enjoyed his comments on Mrs. Palin. Read all the way to the end! The reference to Deborah can be found in Judges 4.

The Democracy Project has 10 reasons Sarah Palin is a good pick.

City Journal's Heather MacDonald has concerns about upping the diversity ante: can we ever have an all-white-male ticket again?

And finally, Scrappleface on the teen pregnancy story. (Just so you know - it's a satire site.)