Years ago, I attended a pro-life conference hosted by Americans United for Life where the late, highly distinguished French paediatrician and geneticist Dr Jerome Lejeune – who discovered the extra chromosome that causes Down Syndrome – was the keynote speaker. After his presentation, I asked him a most important question. I said, Dr Lejeune, when does human life begin? And with his beautiful French accent, he said, “At conception, of course.” And I followed up by asking him if any of his colleagues disagreed with him. He replied, “No, we all know when life begins. But we don’t agree as to when new human life deserves protection.”
For Lejeune, a devout Catholic who was declared “Venerable” by Pope Francis, it was scientifically and morally crystal clear that human life deserves protection at the beginning. That is, at conception!
In discovering the extra chromosome that causes Down Syndrome, Lejeune had hoped that his discovery would lead to the cure of this developmental disorder. But an unforeseen negative consequence was that pro-abortion advocates ironically used his discovery to promote prenatal testing for Down Syndrome babies, and to convince women carrying Down Syndrome unborn babies to abort them.
This caused Lejeune great sadness, which in turn led him to a lifetime dedicated to defending unborn infants, children with Down Syndrome, and persons with other intellectual disabilities.
He argued that genetics should be used to cure patients, not eliminate them.
As an outstanding example of his selfless integrity, upon receiving the American Society of Human Genetics’ William Allan Award – the highest honour in genetics – Lejeune used the occasion to condemn abortion before his scientific colleagues. Reportedly, he told his wife that on that day, “I lost my Nobel Prize in Medicine.”
But his loss of the Nobel Prize was topped by St. Pope John Paul II’s appointing him the first president of the Pontifical Academy for Life, and Pope Francis declaring him “Venerable” – heroic in virtue – hopefully on the road to sainthood.
Adding to these papal tributes, Pope Leo recently praised Dr Lejeune during his meeting with members of the Jerome Lejeune Foundation, recalling Lejeune’s famous saying that “Medicine is hatred of disease and love for the sick person.”
Admiring Lejeune’s tireless advocacy for the defenceless unborn, Pope Leo highlighted that Lejeune denounced physicians who violated the Hippocratic oath, and who instead promoted this new eugenics, which he called “chromosomal racism.”
Pope Leo added that Dr Lejeune’s prophetic words rang out, defending the need to protect and promote the life and dignity of every human being.
And as he concluded his address to the Jerome Lejeune Foundation, the Holy Father encouraged them to continue working for the common good, which includes everyone – especially those living with frailty or disability.
In one way or another, we all possess disabilities. And so let us strive to help each other to overcome our disabilities, realising that every single person – born and unborn – is a wonderful, unique, unrepeatable gift from the Creator. All we need to do is open our eyes, minds, and hearts to know and celebrate this wonderful truth!
Tony Magliano is an internationally syndicated Catholic social justice and peace columnist. He is available to speak at diocesan or parish gatherings. Tony can be reached at .
