Do you ever play ‘follow the comments’ on your site to find other posts you might want to read?
I did (there’s only so many times one can visit Chatswood Westfield on their lunchbreak), and found an interesting post by Nathan on abortion. He writes:
“Abortion protestors are often (another horrible generalisation) jumping on a moral soapbox that is irrelevant to a non-believer, while offering no solutions whatsoever to the causal issue. Some mothers just don’t feel equipped to have a child, to raise a child and to love a child.”
He also gives an example of an American church which has said they will provide for any child left on their proverbial doorstep. Legal considerations aside (do private adoptions still exist?) I think it would be great to see churches in Australia doing this. I bet there are heaps of Christian couples, unable to have children, who would give anything for the opportunity to raise an orphaned child. What has to happen to make this a reality?
I certainly do play follow the comments. In fact, the whole “follow the comments” phenomena is exactly why I’ve made it my new month’s resolution to comment more on the blogs I read.
leaving comments is like online karma – you will reap what you sow
My wife and I have said that if anyone who is thinking about an abortion goes through with the pregnancy, we will adopt their child if they don’t want them.
We actually had a girl we know fall pregnant and plan on aborting, so we told her (via a 3rd party) that we would adopt the child if she went through with it, and she ended up giving birth and keeping her daughter herself.
Hard work, and not an ideal situation in any sense, but much happier and far less guilt for her.
That’s great, RC. Very challenging. But how would you go about making this known in the future? (ad in the paper??) And legally, would you be allowed to do a private adoption?
At the moment we haven’t made a public declaration (ie paper etc), but more just something we’ve mentioned to friends and family. I’m sure I mentioned it on my blog somewhere, but I can’t find it now.
I’m not sure about the legality – but I’m sure that’s an issue that can be dealt with should the problem arise.
Found it: Brave New World.
Much respect RC. That’s a truly noble post. There should be much more of that.
I play ‘follow the comments’ on other people’s blogs!! And occasionally on my own, but pretty much I know most people who read mine!
AB and I would, like Rodeo, happily adopt in a similar situation. (even though it would mean having so many kids!). We would consider it a privilege and a joy.
I like the idea!
I’m pretty sure private adoptions are illegal here though (unlike america)
What sam said about legal guardianship sounds about right, but being guardian is not the same as adopting – you wouldn’t legally be the parents of the child, their birth certificate doesn’t change (don’t take your last name)
and they won’t have the same rights to inherit from you as a natural or adopted child would.
Guardianship is not meant to be permanent either – it can be undone pretty easily and normally only lasts until the child is 18.
Adoption is very permanent!! Once adopted the child is for all intents and purposes your own child with all the normal rights and responsibilities.
um, Sam deleted my comment because apparently I misheard him and quoted him wrong! Reuben, that’s what I thought – legal guardianship is relatively straightforward, private adoption however is illegal.
Interestingly Queensland just announced its new surrogacy laws yesterday (or its intended surrogacy laws) – I suspect that would be a loophole of sorts where adoption would be a readily available option. Sadly they’ve used it to give everyone – “no matter their sexual status or gender” the right to be parents.
Other states already allow altruistic surrogacy – I can’t see a more altruistic purpose than preventing abortions.
oops, sorry!
Sadly they’ve used it to give everyone – “no matter their sexual status or gender” the right to be parents.
I’m not too fussed about that. I don’t agree with it, but wouldn’t build a case to stop it.
“I don’t agree with it, but wouldn’t build a case to stop it.”
I’m with you. My problem is more the language of entitlement re the “privilege” of parenting.
My point was more that the intention of the act wasn’t to limit abortions, but to give greater freedom. It was poorly phrased (with a direct quote from the release).
Sadly Soph, I don’t think the tide on abortion will ever turn. It’s just too ‘easy’ to do. Don’t get me wrong, I know it’s a hard decision for many women and often comes with monumental consequences for them, but as a society we make it out to be an easy choice.
regarding adoptions I know that it is possible to adopt a child that is known to you, but not related. They’re called “known adoptions” and whilst very tricky and rare the legislation does allow for them in NSW in exceptional circumstances:
“In Western Australia, adoptions by relatives other than step–parents are no longer permitted under the 2003 amendments made to the Adoption Act 1994, and adoptions by carers can occur only when the child has been in their care for at least 3 years. In all other states and territories, legislative provisions allow for adoptions by carers, or relatives other than step-parents, only in exceptional circumstances, that is, when a guardianship or custody order would not adequately provide for the welfare of the child.”