For those of you who want to fund good, pro-life genetic research, I reccommend The Michael Fund. Rebecca Taylor at her blog, Mary Meets Dolly has a great post explaining their work.Next time someone puts down the Catholic Church when it comes to genetic research, saying we want to go back to the old days, I have a name for you: Gregor Medel, the Austrian monk who for his work with pea plants in 1856 is considered a pioneer of the study of genetics.
I have another name for you: Dr. Jerome Lejeune who discovered Trisomy 21, commonly known as Down Syndrome. He is called "The Father of Modern Genetics" and has had his case for beatification opened. His biography, Life is a Blessing, written by his daughter Clara, tells how his life's goal was to uplift the dignity of individuals with Down Syndrome. As the mother who has a child with Down Syndrome, I consider him a pro-life hero. I'm not the only one.
Jerome Lejeune was one of the most highly regarded geneticists of modern times. He discovered numerous sicknesses of genetic origin, of which Down Syndrome (Trisomy 21) is the best known, and he was an ardent defender of life and of the dignity of "those who are mentally wounded", as he called them, to whom he dedicated his entire life, his energy and his talents. Jerome Lejeune was a "sign of contradiction for our time" according to the words of Pope John Paul II.
3 comments:
I hope we see his cause moving forward very soon . . . what a great patron for so many, he would be.
Monica; you took the words right out of my mouth! I went to sleep last night, praying for his intercession in our work.
I did not know this about Dr. LeJeune. Thank you for sharing this. I too will pray for his cause and for his intercession in helping my Christina get through her days safely and with joy.
Judy M.
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