Recently, as I was leaving church following Mass, a family was entering for the next Mass. As I looked down at the faces of their children, I noticed one child in particular. She had the most expressive, beautiful, smiling face I’ve ever seen. She radiated an almost supernatural joy.
While I’d like to think she was really glad to see me, I’m sure she greets everyone that way. This beautiful child has Down syndrome. I think our encounter was providential because as I was seeking a topic for this week’s column I discovered that October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month.
One of the regular pro-life emails I receive is from Austin Ruse, president of the Catholic Family and Human Rights Institute (C-FAM). In last week’s e-mail he mentioned that as many as 90 percent of children with Down syndrome are aborted and then said this:
"The devil wants [children with Down syndrome] dead. Why would the devil want them dead? Because they are messengers sent from God to teach us about love. First, they are joyful people. Sure they have bad days like all of us. But for the most part, they are happy and joyful people and so loving it would knock your socks off. They love unconditionally. The devil really hates that. He hates that the most.
"Second, they teach us how to love. It is a hard thing to think about raising and caring for a person with Down syndrome. It is a lifetime of work and frankly it scares those faced with such a task. But, what parents and siblings of such children tell you, it is an amazing experience. It brings you out of yourself. They teach you the joys of sacrifice. And the devil hates that. He hates it when people learn to sacrifice for others. The devil hates it when we place ourselves second or third or fourth."
In this week’s email from Mr. Ruse, he features a paragraph from a novel called "The Clowns of God" by author Morris West who also wrote "Shoes of the Fisherman." In the book, Jesus sits down with a child who has Down syndrome and says, "What better sign could I give you than to make this little one whole and new? I could do it; but I will not. I gave this mite a gift I denied all of you -- eternal innocence. She will never offend me, as all of you have done. She will never pervert or destroy the works of my Father’s hands. She is necessary to you. She will evoke the kindness that will keep you human. She will remind you every day that I AM WHO I AM."
"So this is why the devil wants them dead," Mr. Ruse asserts. "This is why up to 90% of unborn children diagnosed with Down syndrome are killed by the abortionist’s knife. The devil wants that. He likes that."
In another pro-life article, a mother of a child with Down syndrome speaks to the mother who has recently been told by her doctor that her unborn baby has Down syndrome. "You will love your baby. Really. You have received many subtle and not-so-subtle negative messages about individuals with this condition. These messages are distorted; they are not the truth. The truth is that you will fall in love with your baby, just as you would any of your children.
"It is very normal to feel fear and sadness when you receive the news. You might be tempted to abort your baby because of this fear and sadness. But if you do abort her, your fear may go away, but the sadness will remain. Always.
"However, if you bring your baby to birth, you will discover that your fear was more daunting than reality, and your special baby will transform your sadness into joy! Be not afraid!" Above all, she pleads: "please remember that there are no human words to convey the joy your child with Down syndrome will bring to you. Don’t let anyone talk you out of this very special privilege!"
You can contact Greg at The Nebraska Catholic Conference, 215 Centennial Mall South Suite 310, Lincoln, NE 68508; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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