Abortion and Genetic disorders

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Trinityisgod

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First and foremost: I would like to say I am 100% pro life for the life of a child. I was just wondering what the various opinions are (this is open to non Catholics as well) on aborting a child that may have a major genetic, developmental or learning disability. I bring this up, because I have asperger’s syndrome, which is also sometimes called high functioning autism. I was doing research and I have come to the conclusion that autism has to do with mutation in multiple genes. I remember watching something on I think NBC a few years ago, where a couple found out that their child may have had a genetic disorder, and they debated aborting her (they kept her). I do not remember what the couple’s name was, but they named the child something that means “choice”. Sorry to go off on a tangent, I just want opinions.
 
Having a condition like that doesn’t make them any less of a person. I think if you asked most autistic people whether they wanted to live or to die, they would pick life.

I think we should ask ourselves: Could we walk up to someone with autism and tell them that it would be okay for someone to kill them because of their condition? If not, then we can’t support aborting them.
 
A person is a person. 🙂 Diseases/Disorders don’t make you any less human. 😃

Genetic mutation is a cross some people have to carry through life. I think it’s a marvel that these people can function beautifully with many of these abnormalities. It shows the beauty and adaptability of God’s creatures.

I have to say that people with the genetic mutation Trisomy 21 are some of the most beautiful people I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. My uncle has a genetic disorder called neurofibromatosis which is incredibly painful, but he would still much rather be living than to have had that decision decided for him by his parents.

I think if people fear that they cannot properly care for a child born with a genetic disorder/birth defect, they should certainly put the child up for adoption. The largest waiting list for adoptions is for children with Down’s Syndrome, which says a lot about how there are people who love children with DNA mutation and want to care for them.

The part that makes me very sad is the tests people go through to see if their son/daughter is “abnormal” prior to birth. That shows lack of trust in God.

March of Dimes supports that and Planned Parenthood, by the way.

Many prenatal tests have a high percentage of error, which leads to more abortions.
 
Good answers above. I was going to say that God has a plan for everyone. Even if you are unable to speak, or move, or whatever the disorder may be, God has a plan for you. It’s not our life to take. God knew us before we were formed in the womb, he made is however we are.
 
I know. I don’t think it when people check to see if there’s anything wrong with the baby before birth either. I actually remember learning that in my biology class (I’m a college student). I am quite worried that atleast one of my children might get this disorder. But that doesn’t mean that when I finally get a wife, I wouldn’t want her to kill my child. You are right, disorders don’t make someone less of a person. But when I hear people say things like that, my blood just boils. I really don’t have a problem with my disability (more of an inability). I’m pretty normal. I can’t feel certain emotions the way the rest of the world does. I feel alot of anger and lonliness. Alot of people think it’s suffering, it’s not. Another thing, people with ASD are more likely than the general population to commit suicide. I am worried that this whole thing of aborting children with certain abnormalities, is going to continue with killing children outside the womb that may have something wrong with them. It’s very disappointing, but I honestly think that is the direction our society is going. My mother did not kill me. Even if she would have known that I had it, she still would have kept me. We did not know until I was six. So, it seems incomprhensible to me, that a child that may have certain special needs, should be killed, just because they’re a little different. As a recall, killing people because they are a little different used to be called genocide. I honestly feel that’s the direction it’s headed.
 
I have a child with a genetic disorder - Smith Magenis Syndrome - and honestly, she’s the best thing to ever happen to me as a person. I’ve grown so much and have become so much more accepting as a person and closer to God than I would have if she had not been born. I also have a daughter who is typical as can be. My SMS kid is a very special gift - I wouldn’t have even thought I could be where I am today attitude-wise towards people in general if she wasn’t here. It’s hard, yes, but she’s a gift.

Now, if you would have asked me this question before she was born, I think I’d probably question the decision to have a child with a genetic disorder, and I feel so terrible about being like that before. Like I said, she has changed me into a better more loving person and that’s a HUGE gift - I wasn’t so accepting before. I also turned down any genetic tests before she was born, so it wasn’t something my husband and I went into knowingly - honestly, it’s the best thing that possibly could have happened to me as a mother and a person. And I thank God every day for her and that I didn’t have those tests in the first place because I don’t know if I would have been strong enough back then to think I could handle it. You know when someone says God doesn’t give you something you can’t handle? Well, He had a lot more faith in me than I did in Him or myself back then.😉 Just glad I didn’t have those tests…wouldn’t have changed the outcome of course, but I was more open to loving her without knowing at the time she was born - and God must have known that…I’d have another special needs kid in a heartbeat…
 
Trinityisgod said:
I really don’t have a problem with my disability (more of an inability). I’m pretty normal. I can’t feel certain emotions the way the rest of the world does. I feel alot of anger and lonliness. Alot of people think it’s suffering, it’s not. Another thing, people with ASD are more likely than the general population to commit suicide.
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When you said in the OP that you did research and found the mutated genes thing; I just read that today in a book called, A User’s Guide to the Brain by John Ratey, MD. I am sure you know how much is known about autism and asperger’s now. Early intervention, etc. 🙂

I was curious what you meant above… how do you know that you don’t feel emotions the way the rest of the world does? You say you feel anger and loneliness. That’s like everyone else. Suicide is born of depression; that’s the same as everyone else. I thought each person has unique ways of feeling and expressing emotions. Anyway… off topic, I know. 🤷 Just curious. PM if you don’t want to get off track here but I am curious.

To answer your post, I agree with all above. And I have raised two kids with what others would call “disabilities.” Personally, I thought they were “normal” and the rest of the world was disabled. May you someday find a wonderful wife with your values so that you will be a support to each other!
 
it’s not that. It’s that alot of people with asperger’s tend to be really smart. I feel like everyone always wants too much from me. I feel like I am forced to think differently. It’s basically putting the label “you’re not normal”, on me. I know, but I don’t like it when people try to remind me every twenty seconds. I know I’m not normal. I don’t think anyone on earth is normal, because everyone has a different perception of what normal is. I guess I’m not expected to think for myself. I KNOW I have trouble making eye contact, I don’t like being reminded. I KNOW it’s hard for me to feel empathetic and to express certain facial expressions. I KNOW. I feel like everyone expects so much of me because I have this problem. I’m doing well, but everyone wants too much of me. They hear stuff like "Einstein had Asperger’s (which he may have had), and they expect me to be him.
 
Well we’ve only been able to learn about these genetic mutations and disabilities early in the womb in the past half a century. So the bigger question is do you think God meant to say "don’t kill an innocent in the womb, unless… some time down the road you develop technology that allows you to peek into the womb and see genetic mutations and you decide for yourself that the child’s life will not be fulfilling based on that? I think God was pretty clear about it. Just because we have some new technology that gives us the ability to see things before the child is born it does not then give us the power to decide whether that child lives or dies. Just my two cents.
 
Trinityisgod said:
it’s not that. It’s that alot of people with asperger’s tend to be really smart. I feel like everyone always wants too much from me. I feel like I am forced to think differently. It’s basically putting the label “you’re not normal”, on me. I know, but I don’t like it when people try to remind me every twenty seconds. I know I’m not normal. I don’t think anyone on earth is normal, because everyone has a different perception of what normal is. I guess I’m not expected to think for myself. I KNOW I have trouble making eye contact, I don’t like being reminded. I KNOW it’s hard for me to feel empathetic and to express certain facial expressions. I KNOW. I feel like everyone expects so much of me because I have this problem. I’m doing well, but everyone wants too much of me. They hear stuff like "Einstein had Asperger’s (which he may have had), and they expect me to be him.
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I’m bad with words, but I understand what you are saying here. For the record, I HATE labels, all labels. And I have a distaste for people trying to change another to suit their own comfort zone. My two sons had this problem all through grade school and middle school; especially by teachers who thought their differences were either non-existant and an excuse, or a defect that would inevitably hurt their self-esteem and needed to be placated by telling them they were Einsteins. (Know that one; just the flip coin of the defect thing) Either way,* respect for the individual *and their realistic strengths was non-existant. Now in high school, they perceive themselves as having strengths and weaknesses like everyone else but in their own way. So to the original post, no abortion, genetic differences or not, severe ones or not. Life is life with joys and difficulties.

“Two cents!” Right on! I had an amniocentesis and blood tests, the procedures to determine abnormalities. It was presented to me as a no option because in some cases, like an abnormal heart, corrective surgery can take place in utero. My husband and I had already decided no abortion no matter what and that was that! When it comes time for you OP to have children, you and your spouse will decide the same (hopefully you both will have the same values and know that before marriage!). And then you will probably do what we and many other parents have done before you: viciously advocate and face down the ignorant! :slapfight:
 
Good question, awkward elaboration.

Asperger isn’t even considered a problem in many cases, what I cared about are cases like:
  • Harlequin type ichthyosis
  • Anencephaly
  • Treacher Collins syndrome
  • Cri du Chat Syndrome
whether there is a Church doctrine on these ones actually matters a lot.:confused:
 
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