Monthly Archives: November 2019

Wolf’s Legacy: A Failure to Protect the Most Vulnerable

Posted on by
Translator

By Bonnie Finnerty, Education Director

Gov. Tom Wolf

Gov. Tom Wolf

When Governor Tom Wolf proudly vetoed the Down Syndrome Protection Act that was passed by both houses of the PA legislature, he said it was because the bill “interferes with the rights of women to make their own health care decision.”

Having a child with Down Syndrome may present unique challenges, as raising any child can, but it certainly does not jeopardize a woman’s “health”.

Let’s stop the charade. This is not about health care. This is about judging someone’s life as not worth living.

This is about doctors recommending “termination” rather than offering true support for the life that is already growing in the supposed safe haven of her mother’s womb.

This is about exterminating a group of people because they are different and perceived by some to be a burden.

This is not health care. It’s elitism.

This is not health care. It’s eugenics.

It’s deciding who has earned the right to live by their “wantedness.” It’s deciding who meets an arbitrary standard for quality of life, determined by those who already enjoy the privilege of birth.

Wolf also claims that the bill would “politicize difficult moments for vulnerable families.”

In those difficult moments, shouldn’t vulnerable families be offered better options than death?  Many parents report feeling pressured after a prenatal diagnosis, with 60-90%  aborting a child whose potential they will never know. By emphasizing the perceived challenges the family might face rather than the possibilities, many medical professionals lead couples in an emotional moment to an irreversible decision.

Wolf also characterized the bill as an “attack on abortion.” What about an attack on a helpless human, one who cannot escape or advocate, but who is no less valuable than our Governor?

Ironically, in 2016, Wolf said, “My administration is committed to promoting and encouraging independence, community-based supports and services, and employment for individuals with a disability.” That is, if those individuals are even deemed worthy of life. What good are disability-rights laws to those killed because of a disability?

Yes, people with Down Syndrome will face certain challenges in life, but these challenges can be met by a society that truly embraces diversity. Rather than exterminating those with disabilities, why don’t we exterminate the societal obstacles that prevent them from fully maximizing their potential?

Every person I know with Down Syndrome possesses a simple joyfulness and a beautiful capacity to love unconditionally. How tragic that our Governor’s legacy will be of wanting less of that in our society.

Breaking News–Down Syndrome Protection Act Passes PA Senate

Posted on by
Translator

Down syndrome picture with our sign

By Maria V. Gallagher, Legislative Director

The Pennsylvania Senate has approved the Down Syndrome Protection Act, House Bill 321, by a vote of 27-22.

The bill bans abortion for the sole reason of a prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome. The PA House previously passed the measure by an overwhelming, bipartisan margin.

The bill now heads to the Governor’s desk.

Senator Kristin Phillips-Hill noted it was appropriate to consider the bill on National Child Day, calling it a common sense piece of legislation.

Speaking to people with Down syndrome, the Senator said,  “We believe you have the right to be born and the right to enjoy a full and productive life.”

Another of the bill’s supporters, Senator Scott Martin said, “Disability rights begin in the womb.”

The bill is a response to the sky-high abortion rate for babies with Down syndrome. It has been estimated that the vast majority of children in the womb who are diagnosed with an extra chromosome are aborted.

It’s Time to EMBRACE – not erase – Down Syndrome in the United States

Posted on by
Translator

The PA Pro-life Federation welcomes                                                                                guest bloggers Chloe Kondrich and Sara Hart Weir

chloe and best friendSara Hart Weir and Kasey

While countries like Iceland have grossly celebrated the eradication of individuals with Down syndrome from their society (eugenics as its worst) – we are teaming up to send a new message to our country’s leaders, employers, educators, healthcare providers, future parents and most importantly, individuals with Down syndrome – life for people with Down syndrome matters.

Our life’s passion and work, in different corners of our great country, brought us together with this common moral – “pro-life for all of life.” For the two of us, a future that doesn’t include people with Down syndrome is very personal (Chloe is a self-advocate from Pennsylvania who is one of the fiercest advocates on the planet and Weir is the former President & C.E.O. of the National Down Syndrome Society and a candidate for U.S. Congress).

Today, we are calling on all Members of Congress, regardless of party, to put your differences aside and help us ensure that our society embraces diversity, embraces differing abilities and, most importantly, stands for life, from the very beginning to natural death, by supporting a new bill, the Down Syndrome Discrimination by Abortion Prohibition Act, which places a federal ban on the performance of an abortion because an unborn child has been diagnosed with Down syndrome.

There continues to be a widespread increase in the Down syndrome prenatal screening tests in the United States (and across the world) which is leading to a decrease in the number of babies with Down syndrome. And while these screening tests (called noninvasive prenatal screening tests (NIPT)) are intended to only screen for Down syndrome (not diagnose), the pressure to not seek further testing, and terminate a pregnancy is real. For instance, the most recent stats available to the public estimate that 67% of babies with Down syndrome are terminated in the Unites States, 77% in France, 98% in Denmark and 100% in Iceland.

Chloe and her father Kurt speak at events and venues across the country to end this prenatal eugenic movement against Down syndrome, and Weir is setting her sights, with Chloe’s support, on taking their collective message to the United States Congress by representing her home district in Kansas to continue to give a voice to the voiceless. Kansas also happens to be a battle ground state for the pro-life movement, as we seek to advance an amendment next year to reverse the State of Kansas’ recent court decision that found the right to an abortion in the Kansas Constitution. Weir and the Constitutional amendment will find themselves on the same ballot in 2020.

For the two of us, as women, this possibility that our society won’t include people with Down syndrome is unacceptable. We are speaking up and speaking out to help influence generations of women and families that people with Down syndrome matter – and will continue to advocate at the federal and state levels to “Embrace, and not erase” our community. We hope you join us! 

Chloe Kondrich, Down syndrome Advocate

Chloe Kondrich, who happens to have Down syndrome, is from Pennsylvania and has fought to pass her own bill “Chloe’s Law” which requires support and educational materials to be provided for families after a diagnosis of Down syndrome – a model law that is working itself through state legislatures around the country. Chloe has met the President and Vice President and appeared twice at the United Nations in NYC.


Sara Hart Weir, Republican US Congressional Candidate, KS-3

 Sara Hart Weir, (38) a pro-life Republican US Congressional Candidate in Kansas’ Third District, most recently served as the President & C.E.O. of the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS), the leading human rights organization for all individuals with Down syndrome, inspired by her best friend, Kasey, of over 20 years who happens to have Down syndrome, is hoping to continue her life’s work by giving a voice to the voiceless in Congress.

Philadelphia Say So March Shines Light on the Black Genocide

Posted on by
Translator

By Rev. Dr. Clenard H. Childress, Jr., Founder of BlackGenocide.org, and guest blogger for the PA Pro-Life Federation

Pastor Childress speakingMarch hand in hand toward Philly City Hall

Philadelphia is always our favorite stop due to the fellowship with Exodus Baptist Church where Pastor Herb Lusk is the Pastor. As some of you may know, Herb Lusk was the praying half back of the Philadelphia Eagles from 1976 to 78 and was a constant menace to the New York Giants. God always has a sense of humor. I would have never thought the guy I was rooting so strongly against would one day be such a great friend and such a great help to me and the cause I serve.

After a stellar sermon by Pastor Lusk, along with an exhilarating and uplifting worship service on Sunday, October 13th, we headed out to Broad Street to march down to City Hall Plaza. We always create a great witness during the March and often are able to witness to the citizens of the City of Brotherly Love. Often, we see faces of utter surprise, and this year’s nods of approval were up when discovering why we were marching.  It’s quite a witness to see so many people of color holding graphic signs warning the city of the horror of abortion. Quotes of Martin Luther King and Fred Shuttlesworth expressed the need for the citizens of justice to rise up and demand justice for children yet to be born in the womb.

The March was only about 15 to 20 minutes, but we had an impressive body of protesters and once again we had activist Hector Ferrer with us. As I preached to the city in between pro-life chants, Hector added homilies of life in Spanish.  I found out later Hector grew up in Philadelphia and attended school there, one of which he was able to march by and see. Once again, the diversity and Christian manner we portrayed is what the nation needs to see now. So, the preaching, chanting and the unity allows our spirit to touch those that are there and those that view it later through social media and the many still shots we take.

Once arriving at the plaza, the skate boarders made room for us and the crowd that’s normally already gathered for leisure was introduced to pro-life activism at its best. The crowd now stood by and heard the compassionate voices of pro-lifers crying out for those whose voices are being silenced by abortion.

Rev. Herb Lusk Jr.’s son led us off with words of commitment and dedication to the plight of the unborn and allowed his son to come up to the podium as he spoke. Why? To remind us all we have to pass the baton till the evil of abortion ends. “The Killing Must Stop”.

I had the pleasure of meeting the director of the Crisis Pregnancy Center for Exodus Baptist Church called “The Hope Center” Marlene Downing, who marched with us along the route and shared a message for the future of young girls who come into the center seeking help. Her love and experience speak to the heart and soul of the women that come in to the Hope Center. The pro-life movement must understand that the people of faith are created to play a role in the ending of abortion. Marlene has a message that I and many others cannot carry, making her voice and service in this area so vital to the movement.

Michael Ciccocioppo,Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Pro-life Federation, marched with us and gave words of exhortation and expectation. Michael encouraged us to stay diligent in our struggle and encouraged the marchers by letting us know the progress we are making locally and nationally.

There were others there such as Patrick Stanton who spoke of the family legacy of engagement and commitment to the cause there in Philadelphia, Pastor Joseph Randolph of the Onley Baptist Church, the fine officers of the Philadelphia Police Department, and all the way from Atlanta Georgia, a forerunner Loretta Greer. Activist Greer spoke words of wisdom and reflected on the pro-life ministry in the African American Community past and present. Sister Loretta highlighted the faithful struggle of LEARN in its endeavor to reach the African American Community as well as the country. Special thanks to Michelle Martin of Exodus Baptist who coordinated our visit to Exodus,  producing an outstanding fellowship.

It was our best attended march in Philadelphia but for 2020 we have to greatly surpass this effort and we are committed to do so. God has brought us thus far and we can’t draw back now! I declare 2020 the year of activism!

 

Reprinted with permission from the 10/31/2019 newsletter of the Life Education And Resource Network (L.E.A.R.N.)