Hundreds call to adopt Down Syndrome baby, save it from abortion – reblog Washington Times

Photo by: Carolyn KasterImage: Associated Press

When the Rev. Thomas Vander Woude learned about a young couple planning to abort their unborn baby that had been diagnosed with Down syndrome, the priest reached out and offered a deal: Deliver the child and he would help find an appropriate adoptive family.

But he had to act fast.

The woman, who has not been identified for her privacy and her protection, was just shy of six months pregnant and lives in a state that prohibits abortions past 24 weeks — which meant he had a short time to find a family willing to make a lifelong commitment.

So Father Vander Woude, the lead pastor at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Gainesville, Va., approached a volunteer who helped manage the church’s social media pages, and she posted an urgent plea on Facebook early Monday morning.

“There is a couple in another state who have contacted an adoption agency looking for a family to adopt their Down Syndrome unborn baby. If a couple has not been found by today they plan to abort the baby. If you are interested in adopting this baby please contact Fr. VW IMMEDIATELY,” the post read. “We are asking all to pray for this baby and the wisdom that this couple realize the importance of human life and do not abort this beautiful gift from God.”

The post asked people to call the church’s office after 9:30 a.m. Monday or to email Father Vander Woude.

No one expected the response they received.

“When we got in and opened up around 9:30, it was nearly nonstop. All day long, we were receiving phone calls from people who wanted to adopt the baby,” church staff member Martha Drennan said. “Father Vander Woude has gotten over 900 emails in regard to the baby.”

The offers were narrowed to three families, which the unborn child’s parents are reviewing with the help of an adoption agency.

Ms. Drennan said the church received phone calls from all over the United States and around the world, including from England, Puerto Rico and the Netherlands.

“I think it is a wonderful use of social media, that word can so quickly get all over the country and even to foreign countries and that the people who see the value of life are stepping up and saying, ‘I will take that baby and raise that baby as mine,’” Ms. Drennan said. “It was a beautiful witness all day long that so many people wanted this child and believed in the dignity of that child — Down syndrome or not.”

The president and founder of the International Down Syndrome Coalition, Diane Grover, stressed the importance of informing couples who are considering abortion for babies with Down syndrome that adoption is a viable option, pointing to the fast and overwhelming response her organization received about this one unborn child as an amazing example.

“When [couples are] in that position, a lot of people wonder if their child [with Down syndrome] would actually get adopted,” Ms. Grover said. “There’s a lot of people waiting, and we are happy to always help.”

David Dufresne, a seminary student who plans to become a priest next year, volunteered to help the overwhelmed church staff take calls.

“I was taking calls for about three hours straight, just talking to people who are willing to adopt this little baby they never knew about until that morning,” Mr. Dufresne said. “I mean, all day long, just receiving phone calls from people who were so generous and within a couple minutes made a life-changing decision. I was really inspired by the goodness of people and what they would do to save a life.”

Morning Reading: Acts 13:1-3 NLT – hands on commissioning

Reading: Acts 13.1-3 NLT

Among the prophets and teachers of the church at Antioch of Syria were Barnabas, Simeon (called “the black man”), Lucius (from Cyrene), Manaen (the childhood companion of King Herod Antipas), and Saul. One day as these men were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Dedicate Barnabas and Saul for the special work to which I have called them.” So after more fasting and prayer, the men laid their hands on them and sent them on their way.

Prayer: Holy Spirit – Call forth godly prophets and teachers from within your church… people who will worship, fast and pray. And set apart worker/evangelists who will go to harvest fields near and far… seeking those who are lost. Unite the world-wide community of believers around this missionary effort… regardless of religious tradition. Speak your Word of truth… that all might know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. I ask it in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Hymn: “Fling Out the Banner! Let it float!” – George W. Doane (1848)
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Prayer Request: Irish Parliament Considers Pivotal Abortion Bill This Week

“60,000 march in Ireland’s biggest ever pro-life Rally against abortion”
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Should this law be passed, Ireland will face the ugly prospect of joining the United States as a nation where the most dangerous place for a baby is nestled in his or her mother’s womb.

Charlotte Lozier Institute on July 9, 2013 in Commentary, Culture & Life – By Nora Sullivan

This week in Ireland, the final vote on proposed abortion legislation is expected to take place. The Dáil is expected to hear and discuss proposed amendments to the divisive bill, though Taoiseach Enda Kenny has made it clear that one of the most contentious portions of the bill — legalized abortion on the grounds of suicidality — will not be removed from the proposed legislation.

The bill states that it shall be lawful to carry out a procedure in which “an unborn life is ended” if medical practitioners certify that there is a “real and substantial risk of the woman’s life by way of suicide” and that risk can only be averted by means of termination. The bill makes no stipulations regarding gestational age, meaning that this proposed law would allow for the induced abortion of unborn babies up until the day of birth.

Despite pro-abortion advocates’ arguments, the assertion that this action is necessary for the mental health and life of the mother is simply not supported by any credible evidence. The medical evidence makes it quite clear that abortion is not a solution to suicidality or suicide ideation. In January, the Irish Government’s Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children held hearings to consider evidence from leading medical experts on this issue. The experts overwhelmingly agreed that abortion is not a treatment for suicidal behavior – and asserted that the appropriate response to suicidality is to provide proper psychological treatment and medication.

In a written submission to the Committee, Paul Gilligan, CEO of St Patrick’s University Hospital in Dublin, and St. Patrick’s medical director Professor James Lucey explained that there is “no evidence either in literature or from the work of St Patrick’s University Hospital that indicates that termination of pregnancy is an effective treatment for any mental health disorder or difficulty.”

Additionally, there have been multiple studies which demonstrate that, rather than acting as a cure for any sort of psychological distress, abortion can further harm a woman’s mental health. Abortion can be a contributing cause of depression, substance abuse, and anxiety disorders such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, as well as suicide ideation.

While there, of course, must be concern and care for a woman in mental distress, the fact remains that this bill would allow for the destruction of a human person. To endorse such a proposal — especially as the evidence demonstrates that it is needless and unhelpful — would be both morally wrong and intellectually dishonest.

The proposed legislation is somewhat paradoxically entitled the “Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill.” As this law would both forcibly end the life of one human being and potentially tear apart the life of another, the irony is quite bitter. Should this law be passed, Ireland will face the ugly prospect of joining the United States as a nation where the most dangerous place for a baby is nestled in his or her mother’s womb.

Major papers reject pro-life ad – image of baby ‘too controversial’ – reblog (LiveActionNews)

BY CALEB PARKE
Mon Jul 08, 2013 08:45 EST

July 3, 2013 (LiveActionNews) – A national pro-life organization is outraged after three major American newspapers rejected a pro-life ad as “too controversial.”

The Chicago Tribune, USA Today, and the LA Times refused to run an advertisement created by Heroic Media.

The ad features a hand holding a 20- to 24-week-old baby with the quote, “This child has no voice, which is why it depends on yours. Speak Up.”

Heroic Media Executive Director Joe Young said he was shocked and angered that the media outlets were willing to talk about the issue but were unwilling to show the reality of life at 20 weeks.

“I am disturbed that these papers would run article after article promoting the notion that abortion is a victimless act without consequences,” Young said. “The fact remains, children who are unique individuals – never again to be duplicated – are being killed in the most violent way imaginable and they feel the excruciating pain of that death.”

The newspapers took issue with the image of the baby.

“It seems as though it is okay to talk about the issue in general, but when you actually put a face to the discussion, then it becomes controversial,” Young said.

Last week after the House passed the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, Heroic Media put out a statement requesting that the pro-life community contact their senators and encourage them to consider and support the Act.

“Americans deserve to know the truth about the children sentenced to die for no fault of their own and that we have a chance to spare some of them through this legislation,” Young said.

The Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act prevents an abortionist from performing an abortion at or after 20 weeks, based on empirical scientific medical evidence that proves that unborn babies can feel pain. Science shows that at eight weeks after fertilization, the unborn child reacts to touch, and at 20 weeks, the unborn baby responds to what would be felt as pain.

The image shows a 20- to 24-week-old baby in a person’s hands. Heroic Media’s goal was to show what life looks like at 20 weeks. The non-profit organization has resubmitted the ad with a different image, now one of a 20-week-old baby in utero.

The Chicago Tribune has now agreed to run the ad with the second image as long as Heroic Media indicates that it is an advertisement.

“Our hope is that the American public begins to advance this debate with both the mother and child in mind,” Young said.

Heroic Media is a non-profit whose mission is to educate the public in general and reach women facing unplanned pregnancies with life-affirming alternatives through the use of mass media, such as television commercials, internet outreach, and billboards.

“This issue, the late-term killing of developing children, is one that should be addressed in the U.S. Senate, and we encourage our fellow citizens to let their Senators know our desire to see that happen,” Young said.

Please click on this link to go to the LiveActionNews website.