Editor’s note. This appeared at the Life Institute, a major Irish pro-life organization.
The “Eighth Amendment” refers to an amendment to the Irish Constitution passed in 1983 that says, “The State acknowledges the right to life of the unborn and, with due regard to the equal right to life of the mother, guarantees in its laws to respect, and, as far as practicable, by its laws to defend and vindicate that right.” It is under siege by pro-abortion forces.
Anne Trainer, whose adorable little boy, Kevin, has Down syndrome has written a powerful and important article on the Journal.ie today.
Entitled “Abortion is leading us to a ‘Down’s Syndrome-free’ world. I can barely type the words,” this courageous mother explains that “the Eighth Amendment protected my son, and he was deserving of that protection”.
She writes: “I believe that children like Kevin are a gift to all of us, and I am thankful every day that their lives are protected by the Irish Constitution. The huge problem I have with the Eighth Amendment being tampered with is that I know fear is a very powerful emotion.”
She points to Iceland’s 100% abortion rate for babies with Down’s syndrome and says that “Legal abortion is leading us to a “Down’s syndrome-free” world. I can barely type the words. It is utterly heartbreaking.
Little wonder that, in Britain, Lord Shinkwin – a member of the House of Lords who has a congenital disability – last week gave a powerful speech pointing out, “the writing is on the wall for people like me.
“People with congenital disabilities are facing extinction.”