There has been recent discussion in the adoption blogosphere regarding the interplay between religion and adoption (See Third Mom and Mia's Saving Grace and their comment sections) .
The ultimate issue that is not being addressed here is the issue of basic morality that falls outside of the religious plain. That issue is: Do we want our babies having their own babies? Do we want laws that will require parents of teen children to raise their grandchildren?
Are we so focused on adoption reform that we can't see the proverbial forest (teen pregnancy is NOT a good thing) from the trees (preservation of the family)?
Certainly, the underlying problem here in adoption is NOT religion. It is teen pregnancy. And, if religion is one of the few bastions that refuses to tolerate teen pregnancy or implicitly support teen pregnancy by staying silent, then I say Thank God!
Does this mean that I support coercion on the part of churches and other religious groups to force young women to relinquish their children?
Certainly not.
But, religion's condemnation of teen pregnancy and the problems that it poses REQUIRE, in my view, that religion also provide family planning solutions that should not be solely limited to abortion ala Planned Parenthood.
Common ground? I believe that religious-based adoption organizations should have it first on their minds to counsel with the default thinking that the child should stay with his/her mother. And, I believe it is very correct that such organizations (as a whole) do not do this right now, and this should be changed (and mandated, perhaps, by law for ALL agencies, religious and secular).
In the end, I believe that religion and adoption mix quite well, and those opposing a mix between the two have emotional blinders on.
1 comment:
Religion and adoption do NOT mix well. This is an ideal, not a fact.
I responded to your comment on Margie's blog but decided just to cut and paste it for you here.
You said; "Reduce this number... and reduce the likelihood of unethical adoption practices."
Of course. It makes perfect sense that if you lower the teen pregnancy rate you lower the adoption rate and thus the number of unethical practices as well. No brainer.
Using this logic why not turn all religious run FOR PROFIT (they can't fool us) adoption agencies into NON-profit information centers. You know, the kind of place that teaches teens about choices and responsibility and consequences to actions? NOT the "burn in hell" kind. The "having sex, getting pregnant and relinquishing your baby will effect you for THE REST OF YOUR LIFE" kind. A fact that is apparently rarely conveyed to pregnant teens/women by agency counselors.
Maybe if religious run adoption agencies weren't so busy making a buck off of the teen souls they care so much about they would have more time on their hands to make a real difference.
Or should I say the kind of "ideal" difference you see taking place.
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