Mom of Disabled Child: Pre-Natal Genetic Testing Can Lead to More Abortions

As Christians, what is our ethical duty in this debate? What should pastors and priests counsel the expecting mothers in their congregation?

These are her real questions. Her faith tells her that using genetic testing is against God's will. My belief is that if she chooses to go down that road, more power to her, but keep your @!$%#ing faith out of my life decision whether or not to bear a child that is severely mentally and/or physically handicapped.

I have never been in that position and do not envy any parent that is. I know for myself, at this moment, I am mentally and emotionally incapable of bearing a child with severe disabilities. CF, though, is a different entity in my mind. Anyway, I digress. So, in a case where a woman will bear a child with severe deformities, etc, and she isn't capable of raising that child? Is she supposed to give birth and let the state raise it in some institution or put it in foster care where the likelyhood for abuse is extremely high? I think not. But hey, that's just me.

Is she supposed to give birth and let the state raise it in some institution or put it in foster care where the likelyhood for abuse is extremely high.

I would disagree with the notion that death is an appropriate way to avoid abuse.

Perhaps. But the bottom line is if I, as a mother, choose to abort due to the fact that the child I'm carrying has a severe mental or physical handicap, than I should be able to do so.

“Testing curbs some genetic diseases.” Couldn't the article title have been, “Testing snuffs out those with genetic diseases?"