{"id":52924,"date":"2014-08-23T10:18:35","date_gmt":"2014-08-23T14:18:35","guid":{"rendered":"\/news\/?p=52924"},"modified":"2014-08-22T20:21:12","modified_gmt":"2014-08-23T00:21:12","slug":"pregnant-couples-who-plan-to-abort-down-syndrome-babies-defend-their-choice","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/archive.liveaction.org\/news\/pregnant-couples-who-plan-to-abort-down-syndrome-babies-defend-their-choice\/","title":{"rendered":"Pregnant couples who plan to abort Down syndrome babies defend their choice"},"content":{"rendered":"
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By now, most pro-lifers have heard the cruel and elitist comments made by Richard Dawkins about aborting Down syndrome babies. Dawkins claims that the \u201cethical\u201d choice is to abort all babies with Down syndrome, even though these children often lead happy lives and enrich their families and society.<\/p>\n

An NBC article by Kimbery Hayes Taylor describes <\/a>the results of 3 studies conducted by Boston Children\u2019s Hospital. In the first study, out of 2,044 parents or guardians surveyed, 79% reported their outlook on life was \u201cmore positive\u201d because of their child with Down syndrome.<\/p>\n

A second study found that among siblings of children with Down syndrome, 97% expressed feelings of pride for their brother or sister and 88% were convinced that they were better people because of their sibling. This study polled siblings over the age of 12.<\/p>\n

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A third study focused on the feelings and attitudes of people with Down syndrome themselves. Among adults with Down, 99% said they were happy with their lives and 97% said they liked who they were. 96% said they liked the way they looked. You would probably not find such high numbers among the general public. According to the study, Down syndrome children grow up to be\u00a0happy adults.<\/p>\n

And yet the abortion rate for Down syndrome babies is tragically high. \u00a0Some studies put the number at 90%<\/a>. Our culture puts so much value on independence and individual achievement\u00a0that human beings who do not \u201cmeasure up\u201d to certain standards can be rejected and aborted. \u00a0Children become commodities that can be tested and found wanting and then destroyed. Only if they pass a criteria established by their parents are they judged acceptable and allowed to be born.<\/p>\n

Rayna Rapp, a former abortion clinic worker who aborted a baby with Down syndrome herself, conducted a survey of women and couples who sought amniocentesis to screen for Down syndrome and other problems with their babies. All of the interviewees\u00a0intended to abort if the baby was found to have\u00a0Down syndrome. Some of the things that these parents say\u00a0about Down syndrome children are deeply troubling to anyone who values life. Here are some comments from men and women who said they would abort if the test came back positive for Down.<\/p>\n