Our 2015 March for Life theme, “Every Life is a Gift,” has drawn upon the work of the Lejeune Foundation, a research and advocacy organization for individuals with Down Syndrome. We recently shared a report by the Lejeune Foundation-USA’s President, Mark Bradford, entitled “Abortion after Prenatal Diagnosis of Down Syndrome Reduces Down Syndrome Community by Thirty Percent.”

To the Least of My Brothers and Sisters is a new documentary on the life of Jerome Lejeune, the Father of Modern Genetics that was made to celebrate the 20th anniversary of his death. Filmed on two continents, it contains numerous interviews with former colleagues, families, current medical researchers, and others, all who express the importance of Jerome Lejeune in both the history of medicine and the defense of the dignity of human life.

For those in the D.C. area, a free showing of the documentary will be held at the Heritage Foundation:

• DATE:May 6, 2015
• LOCATION:Heritage Foundation, 214 Massachusetts Ave NE Washington DC 20002-4999
• TIME:6:00 PM reception; 7:00 PM screening
• RSVP:to contact@LejeuneUSA.org
• COST:Free

BA – “Jérôme Lejeune, to the least of these my brothers & sisters” from Aloest on Vimeo.

Jerome Lejeune’s importance in the history of medical and scientific discovery cannot be overestimated. He was called “The Father of Modern Genetics” because his 1958 discovery that Down syndrome was caused by an extra copy of the 21st chromosome radically changed the course of modern medicine and initiated the new field of cytogenetics. Awarded by President John F. Kennedy in 1962, and feted by the American Society of Human Genetics in 1969, his fortunes turned when he became an outspoken advocate for the dignity of human life, and opposed the use of his discovery to prenatally diagnose and abort babies with Down syndrome. For this cause he is an icon in the current struggle to preserve the right of conscience for medical practitioners and others who are increasingly challenged by governmental mandates to set their beliefs aside in their professional work.

For more information about the Lejeune Foundation, click HERE.