"People may be pro-birth, but I'm still waiting to be shown that they're actually pro-life."

That is the whole point in one statement.

Thanks

Doomed, and not even all that brilliant; there already exist networks for available Down Syndrome adopters (as well as other disabilities) and it didn't take legislators' time nor taxpayers' money to set them up. Frankly, the "link" between adoption and abortion rates is as nonexistent as the connection between 9/11 and Iraq. And for all the folks who blithely blather on about no child being left behind, there are thousands of unaborted kids warehoused in American foster care whom nobody is rushing to bring home. Pro-choice IS pro-life. And being truly pro-life requires some greater commitment to quality of life, as well; whether adoption always elevates the quality of a life is in the eye of the beholder. Perhaps these adoption-oriented politicians ought to be focussing their efforts on helping adult adoptees access the truth of their beginnings, since most of the government registries launched for that purpose have failed adoptees miserably?

"Pro-choice IS pro-life"

Absolutely - and a good point.

Abortion is just an excuse to ignore a bigger problem. It's like throwing money at social programs without fixing the programs. It's like sending billions of dollars to Africa, only to watch it get stolen by warlords and corrupt governments.

As with most things, the government just makes a mess of things when they get involved.

Part of the reason so many children are unadopted in the U.S is because of the bureaucracy involved. This is why so many go to China, Central America, or Ukraine.

I would hope that most people agree that abortion is not the ideal solution. However, being born to a mother or family who will be a drain on the system is not ideal either.

The problem isn't lack of people, it's government interference. There is no need for a government-mandated registry. The people of the U.S are the most generous on earth...they just need be allowed the freedom to exercise that generosity.

I'm generally pro-life for a couple reasons:

1) murder is murder
2) personal responsibility

However, I don't care what people choose to do. If people want to kill babies, let them. They have to deal with it and hopefully their family line will end, along with their stupidity. I torn on the idea of exceptions, because the baby is NEVER at fault.

Pro-life zealots who protest and harass people and bomb clinics are no better.

Personally, I'm tired of people worrying about what other people are doing. Roe v. Wade is a joke and indisputably unconstitutional in that it takes away States' rights without proper ratification by the States.

It's a complicated social issue and the federal gov't has no authority in the matter.

With all due respect, Brian, there's certainly no less bureaucracy involved in adopting a child from China, Central America or the Ukraine, and certainly no less expense, either. Whether one adopts from the US foster care system or an orphanage overseas, chances are the child is not truly an orphan. In either case, the adoptive family must complete a homestudy and criminal checks in advance; however, when adopting from state foster care, there are not thousands of dollars worth of fees to be paid, and the adoption is not finalized until after you've gotten home with that child and proven, to your own satisfaction and everyone else's, that the adoption is in fact in the best interests of everyone involved.

I find this debate fascinating. The "chances are that the child is nit truly an orphan" is true with seveteen out of twenty adoptees choosing to trace their roots, and only one mother in twenty saying no to the reunion. Worse, there are judgments agianst women which are not imposed on men, so we see the last of Victorian standards being foisted onto women-as-mothers leading to adoptions that serve the child no purpose. In fact, a certain sense of rejection by your biogical family when trying to make sense of your life as a youngter is notorious within the adoptee community. Adption is rarely child-focused, so much so that there is talk of gaurdianship instead of adoption beacuse it has less of an emotional grip, or claim if you will.

If I ever decide to run for Emperor of America I would love to face some Pro-lifers on the campaign trail.My answer to them would be that I would agree to reverse Roe-vs-Wade and make abortion illegal if and only if they would all agree to a legally binding contract to adopt and raise all unwanted children or face life imprisonment if they refused even once on any grounds.It would be all or nothing, if even one of them refused, they would all go to jail.Then we would see how truly dedicated they all are.

Counterpoint: go to http://www.worldontheweb.com/2008/03/13/almost-abortion-consensus/#comment-283282

I want to shed some light about whether a national registry on adoption woudl work. The Down Syndrome Association of Greater Cincinnati has a National Adoption Awareness Program that was started in 1982. There are over two hundred families registered to adopt a child with Down syndrome across the country. The Coordinator works with some 2000 families a year providing information and support to both families interested in adopting and parents who may choose to make an adoption plan. Ninety nine percent of families that want to adopt have had a favorable experience with someone with Down syndrome whether they are already parents, siblings, co-workers, neighbors, teachers, etc.
I can tell you of hundreds of families who say that the family member with Down syndrome has been a blessing to them and everyone around them so I’m not surprised that there are over 200 families registered with us.
The goal of our National Adoption Awareness program is that every child born with Down syndrome has the opportunity to grow up in a loving family.
We stronly support the Kennedy-Brownback bill that will help make this goal a reality.
Janet Gora
Executive Director
Down Syndrome Association of Greater Cincinnati

Again, D.D. nailed the issue to the door, and we are all left to avert our eyes in shame.....

I too was raised Southern Baptist (central Florida) and put my beliefs into action (with my husband) when we adopted a teenager almost 15 years ago. Reagardless of need, Downs or not, there are many children in our own cities that need loving homes. Thanks for the reminder to us all.

I too was raised Southern Baptist (central Florida) and put my beliefs into action (with my husband) when we adopted a teenager almost 15 years ago. Reagardless of need, Downs or not, there are many children in our own cities that need loving homes. Thanks for the reminder to us all.

I beg to differ with all of this. My husband and I are young, aged 26 and 28. We have already adopted one child with Down Syndrome and are on the list for another. Reading articles like these remind me exactly why we do what we do. Because most of the people commenting would not. We have a child born to us with DS and we have been so unbelievably blessed. I wish you all would realize abortion is murder whether you like to admit it or not, and that every child deserves a chance to live. God created them, it is not our place to destroy them.

I beg to differ with all of this. My husband and I are young, aged 26 and 28. We have already adopted one child with Down Syndrome and are on the list for another. Reading articles like these remind me exactly why we do what we do. Because most of the people commenting would not. We have a child born to us with DS and we have been so unbelievably blessed. I wish you all would realize abortion is murder whether you like to admit it or not, and that every child deserves a chance to live. God created them, it is not our place to destroy them.