With Sarah Palin’s Baby, Pro-Life Group Wants to Stop Down Syndrome Abortions
by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
September 8, 2008
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) — With vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin making headlines following the birth of her unborn child with Down syndrome, a New York pro-life group has launched a new effort to stop abortions on disabled unborn children. The affiliate of Concerned Women for America wants to reduce the abortion rate on such babies.
The international project, which features the web site DownSyndromeBrochure.com and a companion print brochure, is aimed at reducing the 90 percent abortion rate for babies diagnosed with Down syndrome.
CWA of New York developed the brochure and web site in consultation with the major Down syndrome groups in America.
The group wants parents of prospective children with Down syndrome to know that there is help and hope.
"The brochure offers reassurance to families facing a prenatal diagnosis and provides them with a list of resources and support groups to help them learn more about their baby’s opportunities," Anne Downey told LifeNews.com.
"At the companion web site the brochure is available in English and Spanish for free download or for ordering of printed copies at a nominal charge," she said.
Eventually, CWA of New York intends to offer the brochure in many different languages and with country-specific versions, such as a French version listing agencies and resources in France.
Downey says the timing of the brochure is crucial given the national attention Palin, the Alaska governor running with John McCain, has brought to the care of special needs children.
She also says the information is crucial for parents because of the ways some doctors have promoted making abortions available to parents with babies diagnosed with the condition in utero.
Downey says learning a baby is diagnosed with Down syndrome doesn’t have to dash hopes, but can be a new beginning for parents.
“The brochure features the faces of a number of children and adults with Down syndrome," she said.
"Each of the persons featured in the brochure came to me in a special way and has his or her own wonderful story to tell. In the photos you can see the joy that these young people and their family members have. Just looking at them, you can see that there truly is help and hope," she told LifeNews.com.
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