On Prenatal Testing - by Dave Burns

Again I think it is important for me to stress that I am an ardent supporter of the sciences. It never ceases to amaze me, the things that we have come to know. However I have my reservations about allowing science free reign. It is quite possible to consider and I think we should consider this type of testing akin to a death sentence for the unborn. Anyone who has "undesirable" genetic traits gets the axe. Where does one draw the line? This is no different than the Nazi attempt to create the master race, one free of "defects" and illness. Furthermore it is an affront against the dignity of human life; any existence is a gift and ultimately brings some good. If also life is the opportunity to come to know and love God we are doing something very wrong by trying to determine who should live and who should die. Now I realize that there are other uses for this kind of testing but it should absolutely not be used to weed out "undesirables" or "defective" children. Other uses might include diagnosis in order to treat or to prepare for different conditions that may occur but it must not be a tool of eugenics or "public health."