This is just for Deedee.
Abortion debate finds common causeBy the Herald editorial staff
A bill making its way through Congress brings a rare chance for both sides of the abortion debate to come together in a humane way.
The bill, backed by Sens. Sam Brownback, R-Kan., and Ted Kennedy, D-Mass., would create a national registry for families willing to adopt babies born with Down syndrome, spina bifida, cystic fibrosis or dwarfism. It would cost about $5 million.
It's easy to point to the flaws in Congress. They are so many and so visible.
But this is an effort well worth the time and money it will take to set it up.
And Congress is the place for it to start.
A McClatchy news service report quoted Brownback as saying that 90 percent of pregnancies are aborted when genetic tests show a fetus will develop any of the medical conditions or syndromes that would be included in the registry.
That Brownback and Kennedy are teamed up on this bill -- which the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee passed unanimously -- is itself remarkable and understandable.
Brownback is a leading pro-life member of the Senate; Kennedy, who is generally pro-choice, had a sister Rosemary, now deceased, who was mentally retarded.
Rosemary was also, as evidenced by occasional news stories over the years of her life, much beloved by her family.
This idea of a national registry would give pregnant women who might not carry their babies to term another option: A warm and accepting home with parents who are willing to accept the extra responsibilities such children represent.
Caregivers to such children get something special in return too. Love without qualification. The special love of special people who often, somehow are blessed with loving hearts to help make up for their physical conditions.
And they pass that love of life around freely -- starting at home.
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/962/story/117296.html
