Vanderbilt University Will Feature Speaker Promoting Pro-Abortion Genetic Screening
Nashville, TN (LifeNews.com) -- Vanderbilt University will feature a speaker on April 2 who promotes genetic screening, which has upset pro-life groups because it is used so often to subject disabled babies to abortions. In a lecture that will kick off a conference on Religion and Genomics, Ruth Schwartz Cowan, a Professor of History and Sociology at the University of Pennsylvania, will give an address. She will explain how faith-based communities have come to terms, ethically, with genetic screening – even when the screening is mandated and even when the communities are opposed to abortion. Cowan has written a book on how mandated premarital genetic screening programs on the island of Cyprus and the role the Greek Orthodox Church has played in implementing those policies. However, pro-life advocates condemn the screening process, including Sen. Sam Brownback. "Today, between 80% and 90% of the children in America diagnosed with Down Syndrome are killed in the womb…simply because they have a positive genetic test for Down Syndrome," he says. "Roe has made it not only possible but constitutional to kill a whole class of people simply because of their genetic makeup. This is the effect of Roe vs. Wade and a culture that has turned its back on this fundamental moral principle."

British Conservative Leader Won't Back Stopping Abortions on Disabled Babies
London, England (LifeNews.com) -- Conservative Party Leader David Cameron has upset pro-life advocates in England with comments saying he will not back an amendment to the embryo bill to scale back abortions on disabled babies. MPs are expected to vote on a proposal to change the rule that allows abortions as late as 39 weeks if the unborn child is diagnosed with a disability. But Cameron said: "I won't be supporting that. The current law should remain." However, he pledged to vote to reduce the abortion limit for healthy babies to 20 weeks from the current 24. The issues raised by the legislation are sensitive ones for Mr Cameron because his five-year-old son Ivan was born with a severe form of cerebral palsy and epilepsy. Brown also said he would vote for the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill even though it allows for human cloning. "Generally my approach is I want to improve the process of dealing with the genetic defects and diseases that cause so much suffering," he said. "When you have been for genetic counseling and had the answer it could be this or that it could be that, the idea of medical science advancing is not without its attractions."