Pope, president advocate for sick baby

Support is pouring in from around the globe for the British baby Charlie Gard, whose parents were denied permission to bring him to the United States to undergo an experimental treatment for a rare genetic condition. President Donald Trump expressed concern for the family this morning, tweeting, “If we can help little #CharlieGard, as per our friends in the U.K. and the Pope, we would be delighted to do so.” Pope Francis called Sunday for Greater Ormond Street Hospital in London to allow Chris Gard and Connie Yates to do everything possible to treat their 10-month-old son, who has suffered brain damage and is on life support. The hospital claims the treatment would only prolong Charlie’s suffering. The parents appealed the hospital’s decision all the way to the European Court of Human Rights, which ruled against them last week. The New York Post also took the parents’ side in an editorial Monday, saying, “It’s hard to see any moral standard that empowers the state to prevent treatment that it isn’t even paying for and then not even allow an infant to die in his mother’s arms.” The hospital planned to end Charlie’s life support Friday but said it would give the family more time.