The halls of modern science are often filled with those who seek glory through discovery, yet few possess the spiritual fortitude to defend the sanctity of the life they uncover. Dr. Jérôme Lejeune was a man of profound intellect and even deeper conviction, a servant of the Most High who understood that every soul is knit together by the hand of the Creator. In 1958, he discovered the genetic cause of Down syndrome, identifying the extra chromosome that marked these children not as errors of nature, but as unique image-bearers of God. He saw the intricate work of the Father, for as it is written in Psalm 139:14, “I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.” He did not view his discovery as a means to eliminate the “imperfect,” but as a call to protect the most vulnerable among us.
As the world shifted toward a culture of death, seeking to use genetic screening as a tool for destruction rather than healing, Lejeune stood as a lonely sentinel for the truth. He watched with a heavy heart as his own scientific breakthrough was twisted into a weapon of prenatal execution. While his peers sought the favor of men and the accolades of secular institutions, Lejeune chose the narrow path of righteousness. He knew that to remain silent was to be complicit in the shedding of innocent blood. He spoke with the authority of a man who feared God more than he feared the loss of his reputation or his career. He embodied the spirit of Proverbs 31:8: “Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.”
The cost of his obedience was great. Once a celebrated candidate for the Nobel Prize and a leader in his field, he found himself increasingly isolated and stripped of funding as he campaigned tirelessly against the scourge of abortion. He traveled the globe, testifying before parliaments and courts, declaring that a child is a child from the moment of conception and that no human authority has the right to extinguish that flame. He stood firm against the political pressures of his era, refusing to compromise the biological and biblical truth that life is a sacred gift. He understood that we are called to “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:21), and there is no good more fundamental than the right to exist.
In his final years, Lejeune’s mission was clear: to be the voice for those who had none. He treated his patients with a tenderness that reflected the love of Christ, seeing past their disabilities to the eternal spirit within. He was a man who lived out the mandate to “defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy” (Psalm 82:3). His life remains a towering testament to the fact that true science and true faith are never at odds, for both find their origin in the Truth. He finished his course having never wavered, a faithful steward of the mysteries of life who preferred the approval of the King over the honors of the world.