Our son Charlie* was born with Down syndrome in 2007. My training as a developmental psychologist had focused on the deficits faced by people with disabilities and how to deal with those challenges. But I soon found that it was of limited use for understanding my own son. He certainly has challenges that come with his diagnosis, but they make up only a small part of life with our wonderful little boy.
I had been brought up to believe that life is always a gift, but it certainly didn't feel like one when I gazed in shock at a positive pregnancy test. As a mom who had my first baby in college, I know that an unexpected pregnancy can sometimes bring fear, shame, and doubt
Read more: 10 Ways to Support Her When She's Unexpectedly Expecting
Remembering Who We Are
Like many other American children, I couldn't wait to buy The Lion King* when it was first released on video. Now, years later, there's a particular message in that movie that takes on deeper meaning as I think back on it.
WASHINGTON — Cardinal Seán O’Malley of Boston, chairman of the Committee on Pro-Life Activities of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), responded on October 6 to Governor Jerry Brown’s signing of the new California law legalizing assisted suicide.
WASHINGTON — By its recent approval of the Reproductive Health Non-Discrimination Amendment Act (RHNDA) and the Human Rights Amendment Act (HRAA), the Council of the District of Columbia ran afoul of federal law and constitutional principles, says a letter sent to Congress by six members of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) on March 20. The bishops are asking Congress to rescind these two pieces of legislation.
Read more: Congress Urged to Act for Protection of Religious Freedom and Conscience Rights in D.C.
We have a deep need for a love that will fill us to the brim. But for as much as we hear about love in movies, songs, and TV shows, there's a lot of confusion about how to satisfy that longing within us. Could it be that we're missing something
Read more: 10 Surprising Tips for Love the Culture Won’t Tell You
WASHINGTON — Two recently enacted laws in the District of Columbia are “unprecedented assaults upon our organizations” and “violate the freedom of religion, freedom of speech, and freedom of association protected by the First Amendment and other federal law,” said representatives of a number of national and local organizations, including the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), in a February 5 letter to Congress.
Read more: Congress Urged to Protect Fundamental Freedoms in D.C.