Who's Human? Thoughts regarding Buzzfeed, abortion laws, and my Brother

I spend a lot of time on Buzzfeed. I usually unwind from my work day by taking quizzes about Harry Potter or about the life of 20-somethings (because then I feel more normal.) 

Today I saw an article about laws restricting abortions on the basis of finding out that the child has down-syndrome. North Dakota has such a law, and Ohio is debating one this fall.(http://www.buzzfeed.com/azeenghorayshi/down-syndrome-abortions)

The debate over abortions for the reason of various disabilities is one I'm familiar with. I often skip these articles because I just get upset and I don't like heated arguments, but today I read it. While the article was fairly balanced regarding both sides, at one point I had to pause in shock.

The article featured some beautiful pictures of a girl with down syndrome who was starting school. But then, her mother was quoted as saying, 

“If I found out if this was truly a fetus who was going to have Down syndrome, I’m pretty sure I would have terminated."

At that point was horrified, but I couldn't stop reading, and made the possibly unwise choice of reading the comments. Not only were several of them nasty and mean, but they spoke of people with disabilities being a "burden" and that "no one wants them." I felt sick as I read several comments that referred only to the cost of raising these children, or spoke of ending their lives as the "humane" thing to do. Much like you would put down a dog.

The ones that came like a punch to the gut were the ones that came from family members of people with disabilities. Most of them mentioned how much they loved that person and what a blessing they were. But THEN they ended with:

"That said, many people are not prepared mentally nor financially to raise a baby, let alone a baby with Down Syndrome....Everyone should be allowed to have a say and choice on the things related to their own body."

"Abortion is such a sad, difficult decision that should never be taken lightly, but I just don't think it's right to force someone to give birth to a child they have no way of caring for."

"I would not judge a woman for terminating a disabled fetus. If the world was perfect no child would be born disabled and every child would have a good life, but that is just not the case."

"But no sibling wants the burden of caring for their brother/sister when their parents pass."

I don't in any way want to trivialize the difficulties that come with having a child with disabilities, or that there are some serious flaws with how our society cares for them. My little brother, who is now in his 20's, has been living with autism since he was a toddler. We've always had problems finding a good situation for him in terms of schools, work, and living arrangements. He cannot live on his own or do most things that people half his age can do. There were times we had no idea how to handle this. As difficult as this is for our family, I cannot imagine how it is for my brother. Fortunately, we've had many people help us, and while things aren't perfect, my brother is in a stable place right now. We still don't always know the right thing to say or how to reach him. I worry about what happens when he's no longer the state's "responsibility," or about what will happen when my parents get older. 

But at NO point in this experience did any of us dream of saying, "I wish he didn't exist. I wish that there had been a test for this and Mom had got an abortion. I would support someone doing so in the same situation." He is my brother, and I wouldn't trade him for anyone else. Even in difficulty, he still loves the little things in life. Seeing my brother's smile or laugh means more than anyone else's. He has taught us compassion even when it is difficult. He's taught us to see who people are beyond the standards that society sets.

My brothers and I when we were kids (We were so cute!!!)

My brother is also a human being, and on that basis alone, he deserves all of our respect and care.  

If some of these people had their way and such reasoning was followed through to its conclusion, then my brother doesn't deserve to live because of the "burdens" he places on other people. When people start thinking of other people as merely the money they will cost to raise, the time spent in taking care of them, or the inconvenience they will cause, then we have a serious issue. We cannot use these reasons to exterminate someone because they are a "problem." The whole point of being humans, and not animals, is showing compassion in the worst situations and treasuring the most vulnerable. 

I'm not one to start a huge debate over abortion or women's rights, but I can't read comments like these and not respond with something. Whether you are pro-life or pro-choice, I just hope that this has helped you see a different side to this issue. Most importantly, I hope we start treating people with disabilities with the same human dignity that everyone deserves.

You've Never Failed

For whatever you may be going through. Absolutely powerful song.

Your grace abounds in deepest waters
Your sovereign hand will be my guide
Where feet may fail and fear surrounds me
You've never failed and You won't start now

Why I'm Grateful for Thomas

Today's the feast of Saint Thomas the Apostle. Most of us probably know the story of "Doubting Thomas," the one who demanded physical proof of Christ's Resurrection. Yes he did doubt, but I feel bad for the guy.

All jokes aside, I really like the story of Thomas. We learn an important lesson from this story: "Do not be unbelieving, but believe." However, sometimes after I read this story, I think, "I haven't seen Jesus (as in human manifestation, walking around and busting into the upper room), but I believe. So I'm a good little Catholic. I'm better than Thomas. I am all set on the fast track to heaven." 

Wow. Probably not the lesson Jesus wanted to teach. Today when I was reading this story for what must be the millionth time, I realized how stupid I can be. And how, in all reality, I am Thomas. I think we all are at some point. 

What I love about this story is that Jesus already knows what Thomas is thinking. He already knows the doubts in Thomas' heart. And he appears to Thomas in answer to that question. He loves him anyway, and Thomas is overcome with love for his Lord and God. We know that Thomas went on to preach the Gospel for the rest of his life and eventually die for his Lord. 

That's why I am grateful for Thomas. He shows us that though we are not always perfect, Jesus loves us anyway and can completely change us. He knows the faults and struggles we have, and he gives us an answer to those difficulties. I am not saying Jesus is going to swoop in and invite us to touch his wounds. We may have to search a little harder. Maybe the answers aren't apparent right away. But we should never doubt his love for us. "Do not be unbelieving, but believe."

"In a marvelous way God's mercy arranged that the disbelieving disciple, in touching the wounds of his master's body, should heal our wounds of disbelief. The disbelief of Thomas has done more for our faith than the faith of the other disciples." ~St. Gregory the Great

We Are the Easter People

Though so much of my work has been focused on Easter lately, I don't think it really sunk in until today how much we need Easter. It hit me tonight, in the middle of a week of discouragement and exhaustion. I wanted to give up, to say that I'd failed, to cry from frustration, to give up. And I suddenly realized then that doing so would make me a complete hypocrite.

To give in to despair and sadness, instead of pressing forward and doing what needs to be done- that is saying that Easter doesn't matter. That Christ, who defeated every evil and even death itself- can't defeat the problems in my own life. Instead, we all have to have hope and to keep going. That is the promise of Easter. That one day things will be better, that Christ truly has all things in control, that it is not stupid or unrealistic to have hope for a better future.

Maybe this isn't the best way to explain it, but tonight it just really hit me how much I myself have to have hope in the Resurrection, instead of just preaching it to other people. Maybe this discouragement tonight was God reminding me of this. We all need this hope in the promise of a better future and in the power of  God to work miracles in our lives. Because this hope is for all of us. We just need a little reminder sometimes.

Do not abandon yourselves to despair. We are the Easter People and 'Halleluljah' is our song. ~John Paul II

Papa Francis- Why I Can't Contain My Excitement

I am, like many people are, quickly falling in love with our new Papa Francis. Every time I read something more about him, I become even more thankful for our new Vicar of Christ. I know we will learn more about him, but I just want everyone to be excited about this as I am!!!!

Pope Francis is from Argentina, where has fearlessly spoken out against actions of the government- not afraid to defend traditional marriage or the right to life. He earned a public rebuke from the president about gay adoption, but at the same time has shown tremendous care for AIDS patients. His compassion and love for the poor is very visible. He founded a ministry for priests to specifically serve in the slums around Buenos Aires, where he visits several times a year and even cooks Christmas dinner. Pope Francis has focused on social justice and care for the poor, but without neglecting the truth of the Catholic faith- a rare combination. 

Pope Francis seems like someone who can truly address the issues at hand. He has said that "we cannot remain calm" when it comes to human trafficking, and also stressed the the Church cannot remain closed in on itself or be hypocritical. He has also been a tremendous advocate for education in Argentina, where he also taught philosophy, literature, and psychology. (He also studied to be a chemist before joining the Society of Jesus) Pope Francis also has previously served on many Vatican committees, showing his ability to engage the broader world. He seems to know his people and priests well, and every year leads a pilgrimage to our Lady. 

His first speech and homily were wonderful, and reading his Easter Vigil homily from a few years ago almost brought me to tears. (Both homilies have some common, beautiful themes) For his namesake he has chosen Saint Francis of Assisi, one of my favorite saints who was not simply friends with all the animals, but one of the greatest leaders in Church history. He's a Jesuit, and one I think that would make Saint Ignatius and Saint Francis Xavier proud. I think his enthusiasm for evangelization is going to have a huge impact on Latin America and the worldwide Church. (I was also very interested to read about his work as Jesuit provincial and rector of the seminary, especially as regards his opposition to liberation theology.)

By all accounts he is a simple, humble man. In Argentina he lived in an apartment instead of the  palace befitting his station, cooking his own meals and taking the bus. Already he has brought this humility to the papacy- wearing white and his own simple wooden cross instead of the red mozetta and jeweled cross, riding the bus or a sedan in place of a limo or the papal Mercedes, and humbly asking all of the faithful to pray for him. He greeted the cardinals personally instead of on the papal throne, and this morning took a rather impromtu trip to Saint Mary Major, even stopping to pick up his luggage and pay his bills. We've already seen his quiet but keen sense of humor- telling the faithful that the cardinals had gone to "the ends of the earth" to get him, and telling the cardinals, “May God forgive you for what you’ve done.”

Finally his papal motto: "lowly and yet chosen."

First Homily: http://www.thesacredpage.com/2013/03/pope-francis-first-homily.html

Easter Homily 2008: http://jmgarciaiii.blogspot.com/search?q=bergoglio)

Love, Suffering, and Joy

"Love is the source of all the joy in life and all the suffering in life. No love means no suffering and no joy. The suffering that comes from love is the price we pay for the gift of loving." Today I heard this song as well as this quote. It reminded me that as Catholics and simply as human beings- we are called to love. It is the reason we have joy, and the reason we have pain. We can't have one without the other. But it's so much better to love- even when it hurts- because that's when we're doing what we were made to do. That's when we are who were meant to be.

This really has nothing to do with being Catholic, except its true, good, and beautiful. (I think that works....)