World Down Syndrome Day was this week. To celebrate, the IDSC put together a lovely video showing how those with Down syndrome are human beings just like you and me: Of course I don’t have to remind you of the gruesome fate that awaits most of these beautiful people who are diagnosed before they are born. As the cult of … Read More
Francis Leaves Popemobile to Bless Disabled Man
Before his inaugural Mass this morning, Pope Francis descended the popemobile to bless a disabled man in St. Peter’s Square. He’s preaching the Gospel of Life without saying a word. I love this man. He also has to be giving his security team some mild heart attacks. I like what Elizabeth Scalia had to say this morning on Twitter in … Read More
The Apostolate of Suffering…Again
I’ve published it here a few times already, but, in light of a discussion at my local young adult Theology on Tap I thought I’d introduce (a better version of) The Apostolate of Suffering to a wider audience. So this week I published it at Ignitum Today and Catholic Lane. Then I was excited to have it picked up by … Read More
Love, Sex and Spinal Cord Injury
“Soooo….can you still have sex?” Since my accident thirteen years ago, I’d say this is one of the most common questions I’ve gotten from my peers — especially when I was in my twenties. Believe it or not, I was actually even asked this (in a less blunt way) by my spiritual director when we were discussing my vocation (because … Read More
Breakfast, Lunch and Hugs
Oh, this is just delightful. Tim Harris is providing his community with food…and hugs! Please, tell me again how people with Down syndrome have miserable lives and need to be eliminated in the womb because they are a burden on their families and society. Go on. Say it to my face.
Giving the H
This is a delightful story from my sisters’ high school alma mater about a young man with Down syndrome who is carrying on the tradition of a school legend: Giving The H from Tom Martin on Vimeo. I think my favorite part of this story is the very beginning: By medical definition, Elijah Mayfield–compared to his peers–is alone. … The … Read More
Cute Baby Vujicic Blogging
Congratulations, Nick and Kanae! On Thursday, Nick Vujicic posted this picture onto his Facebook page with the following caption: “Thank you all so very much for all your love and prayers!! Kiyoshi James Vujicic – 8 Pounds 10 oz, 21 3/4 inches long. Mama Kanae doing excellent as well.” Nick Vujicic, you will recall, was born without any arms or … Read More
A Tale of Two Births
Genetics is not the be all and end all in determining what the “quality” of someone’s life will be — both for themselves and for those around them. In this video Dr. Jérôme Lejeune tells an incredible – and true! – story that goes well with my article last week and perfectly illustrates the arrogance of deciding who is worthy … Read More
Would You Say That to My Face?
My latest for Catholic Lane is (finally) up. In it I expand on some thoughts I’ve shared here before on the message that eugenic abortions send to those living with disabilities. I begin: In recent decades, America has made many wonderful advances in protecting the rights of people with disabilities and including them in society. Gone are the days of … Read More
Perfect Paisley
Although skeptical and scared at first, it didn’t take long after the birth of his daughter Paisley for Heath White to discover that the abortion he originally wanted for her would not have prevented anyone any suffering or embarrassment. Instead, it would have deprived the both of them of a beautiful and happy life together. Thank God for his wife’s … Read More