Well, I've been absent from blogging for a while (OK, wife, quite a while), but I've been recently looking for an interesting thing with which to get back into the writing. Here it is...
I ran across this story today. It amazes me what people will do for their own gratification! Let me see if I can give you the run down and why it makes no sense, from a Biblical point of view.
First, there is this man who was badly injured in a motorcycle accident. His injuries leave him unconscious and probably dying, especially from attendant strokes suffered after the accident.
Second, there is this man's fiancee, to whom he was to be wed this same time next year.
Third, there is this man's parents.
The fiancee wants the hospital where her man is being cared for to harvest some of his semen (YIKES!) for her to carry his child. She explains to the reporter that this is not simply an act of love for him or out of a desire to have children in general but mostly so his parents could have something left of their only son. His parents and fiancee originally made this request under Iowa's state laws concerning organ transplants but were rejected because of the obvious distinction between saving and creating lives. However, after an emergency request was made to the court system, a judge allowed the procedure.
Now, why is this wrong, in my opinion? Well, it is wrong because it is getting the production of children backwards. While children do most often (though, not always) provide a measure of satisfaction and blessing on parents, that should never be the reason for having them. Children do not exist to provide entertainment or satisfaction for parents. In fact, as most parents will probably testify (not being one yet, I am conjecturing, though hopefully realistically) having a child quickly becomes less about what the parent gets out of the deal than what the parent must put in.
So, for parents of this man to manipulate state laws clearly meant to save the lives of people suffering from illnesses in order to "have a part of him left" is wrong-headed. They want that child (in fact, I think they are thinking more of a small version of their own son than the person that will really be produced out of this) for their own comfort in losing their son, not for the child himself. The same seems to be the case for the potential mother.
What happens if this child ends up being nothing like his/her father? This is quite likely. What then? Unfortunately, children aren't throw-away, like electronics that no longer serve our needs. Also, what about the child's need for a father? Will this be ignored? Additionally, what about this man's rights? He did not make a decision to produce a child (not even in the strictest sense of simply having sex). What is he miraculously awakens from his injuries? I can just see his response, can't you? ("You did what!!!")
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3 comments:
Yea! Jon's back. And, yes, Oye Vey! I cannot begin to imagine what his family and fiancee must be going through, but as sad as it is to see someone go, is this really the way you choose to go on. So she has the child, then what? She's a single mother. What if the grandparents don't want to support her or agree with other choices she'll make in the child's life, then what?
Seems like in wanting to save their son, they're sadly letting something slip away...
So I guess that means I should take the sperm harvesting place off speed dial...you know, just in case you keeled over. :)
It does seem like a sick reason to have a child. Granted, it's not uncommon for kids to be born to only one parent: separation, divorce, death of one parent, etc. Think of the army kids whose dads have died in war. Those kids are a consolation to the grieving spouse, I'm sure. However, it seems weird to make a baby for the sole purpose of consolation. Buy a teddy bear, people.
First of all-they're not married. Why should she have any "right" to have his children. Second, their doesn't seem to be much "hope" for the situation on the guy's recovery. Would he really want this girl to have his kid if she's more concerned about that than his well being? Thirdly, do we really think the only way we can influence or pass on lineage is through blood relatives? What about discipleship/mentorship? There are other ways... I think this is incredibly selfish and if I were the guy, I would be upset. That would be the least of my concerns if Tim was in his place.
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