The Internet is Blowing Up

 

I came across a story on the Internet about this YouTuber that I can't get out of my mind . . .

He and his wife were expecting their first child and were so excited about it, until they got the news that the baby would likely have Down Syndrome.

After heart-wrenching deliberation, they decided to abort the baby. 

Not surprising, the Internet is blowing up. 

Unfortunately, the couple have received a lot of threats and have seen "a side of humanity that is deeply disturbing."

Any decent human being would feel compassion for this couple and would refrain from adding to their pain, since the deed is done. Perhaps we are not doing a good enough job getting the word out that responding with hate never helps any situation.

But the truth is, whether it is this couple, or any of the million other people that abort their baby, the act of abortion is a "side of humanity that is deeply disturbing."

To take a baby's life is never okay, no matter the circumstances surrounding the pregnancy, the potential condition of the child, or personal fear. Fear of the unknown can cause people to make all sorts of bad decisions.

I feel deep sorrow for the life that was never given a chance to grow.

I also feel deep sorrow for what this young couple will miss out on by not raising this child. It is perfectly relevant to remember that "God doesn't call the equipped, but he equips the called." 

That is not a cliche. 

This is from the New York Times ("They Had an Abortion After a Down Syndrome Test, Then Told Millions," Pooja Salhotra):

"In his post, Mr. Ridgway [the YouTuber] wrote that 50 percent of babies with Down syndrome have heart defects, 75 percent have hearing challenges and more than 50 percent have vision problems. 'Down syndrome isn’t a ‘blessing,’ he wrote.

Advocates for people with disabilities said that those statistics painted a dire and incomplete picture.

They give the impression 'that having Down syndrome makes your life not worth living,' said Stephanie Smith Lee, the co-director of policy and advocacy for the National Down Syndrome Congress, an advocacy organization. 'That is just absolutely wrong and it’s hurtful.'"

It has been quoted that a high percentage (60-90%) of pregnancies end in abortion when a Down Syndrome diagnosis is presented. This needs to change.

Clearly we are not doing a good enough job getting the word out that raising a child with a disability is, indeed, a blessing, albeit an unexpected one.

Perhaps the message is not getting out that every life is created by God and that we must trust in his goodness.

Having a disability should not be a death sentence. 

Perhaps that message is just being ignored.

Please, we need to stop culling disabled children through abortion because they don't meet our preconceived ideas or our parenting plans. 

Let us rise to whatever challenge we are given in life and put the needs of others before ourselves. 

Isn't that what Jesus did when he gave up his life for ours? 

Pray for peace, joy, and an end to war (and abortion).

Janet Cassidy
Email me at:  jmctm2@gmail.com

janetcassidy.com
https://www.facebook.com/reflectionsinfaith/
https://www.youtube.com/@janetcassidy 

 

 

 

Remembering our loved ones

I rarely re-post, but today, in honor of my mom (Vera Hale) on her birthday, I would like to share this again.

 

 

I remember having a conversation with an employee at the nursing home where my mom was living.  We were chatting around a table and the lady was talking about her mom.

She said that although her mom had died several years before, she still would go to pick up the phone to call her.  My mom and I listened and acknowledged we understood, especially since my grandma had also died several years before.

Even at the time, I knew how precious that moment was for me since I could still enjoy my mom's company.  Today, as I remember her on her birthday, I know all to well the longing to talk to her, to call her up, to share something that is going on.

Naturally, I pray for her every day.  Those who have gone before us rely on our prayers.  They are no longer in a position to pray for themselves, nor make any changes they may have liked to make while living.

That is a good reminder for us, that we should always do our best to grow in holiness, care for others, and avoid sinning as much as possible. It can also send a bit of a shock wave in us when we look around us and wonder, "Who will pray for me when I'm gone?"

You may even want to talk to your family or friends about the importance of their continued prayers for you after you are gone.

I encourage you to take very seriously those prayers you make for others, both those living and dead.  While you may not see the results of your prayers, you can be confident that they are important.

Happy Birthday, Mom!

Janet Cassidy 
janetcassidy.com
https://www.facebook.com/reflectionsinfaith/
https://www.youtube.com/@janetcassidy

 

 

Dying with real dignity

 

 

I was out watering where we had seeds planted that were not yet showing any signs of life. It made me think about that passage from Hebrews Chapter 11 (verse 1) that states:

"Faith is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen."

You see, I have faith that if I do my due diligence and water consistently, we will one day have some pretty flowers. I am hoping that will be the case, even though there is absolutely no evidence of life.

But, I assume that under that dark, seemingly lifeless soil, there is something going on. That is usually true with people as well--there is more to them than what is seen (not that they are dark and lifeless!)

Recently, sprouting from the dark, Michigan Democrats are pushing for a "Death with Dignity" bill that would allow a terminally ill patient to request life-ending medication that they would self-administer.

There is more to this than what can be seen. 

We have resisted movement on this issue for a long time in Michigan. I used to speak out against Jack Kevorkian's promotion of physician-assisted suicide back in the 90s.

As usual, the emotionally charged, clever language that swirls around it can convince even the strongest opponent.

Don't be fooled. 

It does not align with Christianity; we should not buy into the idea that we should control every aspect of our life and death. Appropriate pain management and walking with someone in their suffering at the end of their life does not include encouraging them to self-administer medication to end their life.

We should be careful not to glorify such an act as humane. It is not, no matter how soft the language used to describe it might be. 

I had a wonderful opportunity to interview a priest friend of mine back in 2023 who was living with a terminal illness. After much prayer and discernment he decided to stop refilling his prescription medications as they came due. In September of 2023, as he did so, his doctor told him he might have 2-3 weeks to live.

He died January 26, 2024. 

He was committed to working as long as God allowed, and it turned out to be much longer than anticipated. All in God's time.

In my interview with him we discussed how discontinuing his treatment was different from euthanasia. Fr. Bill Lugger spoke openly about his decision, giving us a wonderful explanation (and personal example) of what it really means to die with dignity.

I encourage you to watch my interview with him and share it with others. You can find the link below.

Pray for peace, joy, and an end to war.

Janet Cassidy
Email me at:  jmctm2@gmail.com

janetcassidy.com
https://www.facebook.com/reflectionsinfaith/
https://www.youtube.com/@janetcassidy 

Fr. Bill Lugger Interview:

https://youtu.be/RynzjOY0QyE