Millions of people around the world are mourning the passing of Charlie Gard, the little boy with the rare disease whose family was unable to provide him the experimental treatment or care they wished.
Vice President Mike Pence was one of millions of pro-life people around the world who we’re saddened by Charlie’s death today.
“Saddened to hear of the passing of Charlie Gard. Karen & I offer our prayers & condolences to his loving parents during this difficult time,” he tweeted
Saddened to hear of the passing of Charlie Gard. Karen & I offer our prayers & condolences to his loving parents during this difficult time.
— Vice President Pence (@VP) July 28, 2017
Leading pro-life groups like National Right to Life today joined a chorus of organizations and people worldwide in mourning the death of Charlie. It said Charlie Gard’s case sparked a worldwide debate about a so-called “quality of life” ethic after courts in the United Kingdom ruled against Charlie’s parents in their struggle to seek experimental treatment for a rare mitochondrial disease.
“It is believed that Charlie could have benefitted from such experimental treatment, but the efforts of Yates and Gard to seek such treatment for their son were denied by the British hospital treating Charlie. The hospital decision was consistently upheld by the British courts,” it said.
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Carol Tobias, president of National Right to Life, told LifeNews: “Our hearts break for Charlie Gard’s parents, and we join with them in their grief over Charlie’s death. No parent should ever have to bury a child; and certainly no parent should ever be told by a court or government that their child must die. The case of Charlie Gard brings into grave perspective what can happen when the government controls a health care system: it alone can decide who lives and who dies. Rest in peace, Charlie.”
Maureen Ferguson, Senior Policy Advisor with The Catholic Association, added: “Our hearts go out to the Gard family, who not only have suffered the loss of their precious baby boy, but have had to endure the interference and obstruction of the courts and British health system in their fight for their child’s life. Whether one agrees with the Gard’s decision to pursue experimental treatment or not, this excruciating decision should have belonged to his loving and devoted parents. There was no apparent compelling justification for the courts to override and replace the unique parental bond of love in this case, which has only added to the heartbreak of Charlie’s passing. The international response to the plight of this baby is a beautiful testament to the irreplaceable value of one human life.”
Catherine Glenn Foster of Americans United for Life added: “Our hearts are heavy today as we learn of Charlie Gard’s passing. We are so thankful for his life, which though too brief, has made a lasting impact on the world and drawn together people from all walks of life and political persuasions, uniting them around the dignity and value of every human being. Our hearts go out to Connie and Chris, who fought the good fight with Charlie. Their fight will continue as Charlie’s legacy, so that we can build a culture that respects life, and protects the lives of the most vulnerable.”
