Abortion and Eugenics

Abortion activists in America often claim that they want abortion to be "safe, legal and rare." They adamantly deny any allegations that abortion is being used for eugenics (the manipulation of reproduction in order to create a more perfect human species). I don't believe there is a conscious eugenic agenda among abortion providers. However, they have dehumanized a segment of the human population, made reproduction utilitarian rather than an act of love, and gotten America used to killing babies as a solution to any social problem. The effect of their agenda is that people faced with the hardship of an "imperfect" child naturally turn to abortion as a solution to their impending "problem," and we have eugenics.

According to LifeSite News, "the leader of Britain's Tory opposition party has stated that he supports eugenic abortion for disabled infants up to the time of birth."


British Tory Leader Supports Unlimited Abortion for Disabled Unborn Children

In cases where parents have been told by physicians they "may have a very disabled child, I would not want to change that," he said. Referring to his own six year-old son, Ivan, who suffers from cerebral palsy and is a quadriplegic, Cameron said, "he's a sweet boy, he's a lovely boy, Ivan," but, Cameron said, he would not want to "put myself in the position" of telling parents they cannot abort such a child.

"Personally Ivan, he's brought incredible things to my life but it is an enormous challenge and I don't think it's right to sort of tell other parents if you hear that you've got a very disabled child on the way, that actually doing something about it isn't an option. That's my view."

My own brother has cerebral palsy and I agree with Mr. Cameron's assessment that caring for such a person is filled with challenges and with incredible things. What I adamantly disagree with is his assertion that lives should be free of such challenges. Are we not called to love others? Is love not always full of challenges and incredible things?

I have often wondered what my life would be like if one of my children was severely disabled. My wife and I are currently being challenged by our one-year-old son who is not disabled but is a bit hypersensitive. His temper tantrums are frequent, theatrical and prolonged. He is also extremely cute, affectionate and cuddly. Life with him (and with our two-year-old daughter) is full of challenges and incredible things. I know from experience that caring for a severely disabled child is more intense, but every child is full of challenges. It's called being a parent.

How have we gotten to the point where "personal autonomy" allows us to decide which children have the right to live? We have accepted eugenics without realizing it.