Is it OK for unmarried couples to have Children?

youcanhandlethetruth · 28-07-2008, 03:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anthony Butcher

My girlfriend and I have been together far longer than most of the marriages amongst our friends have lasted. Being married would make no difference to us if we choose to have children, and wouldn't make any difference to our child either.

The only issue that I can see is that it would be preferable to have a family name that we all share.

Most of my friends are divorced (some more than once), and I see no particular value in marriage. I am very happy for other people to get married of course and enjoy weddings... it just isn't for me.

So, yes it is OK for unmarried couples to have children. All that matters is whether the child is loved and raised properly.

WRT gay couples, I think that gay parents would be preferable to a single parent. Obviously there are going to be some socially awkward issues for the child, but that's life. I wouldn't want to use a child for the promotion of social engineering, but I think that society is moving rapidly enough for this not to be a major issue. Again, how the child is raised is the most important issue.

There are far too many kids brought up by awful parents to worry about whether the good ones are gay or unmarried.

I agree with this view, and Westcountryman's statement that is not necessary but the ideal scenario.

If someone seeks to stop unmarried couples having children, then they are trying to impose their morality on someone who may not share the same morality with regard to the meaning of marriage.

Marriage is the ideal, but not being married is not necessarily important - it's a stable and loving environment which is important.

The only scenario that being unmarried may be detrimental is, if it allows irresponsible fathers to discharge their responsibilities, but I assume good faith that fathers will not be interested in discharging their responsibilities.

And even if it is the case that they are irresponsible, marriage will not necessarily make them take more responsibility in practice ?

The Bear · 28-07-2008, 07:19 AM

Personally I believe that the marital state of a couple, be it a heterosexual couple or a homosexual couple, who are in a stable committed long term relationship should never be a factor in the matter of parenthood.

Where I have concern, great concern, is the recent change with the Human Fertilisation And Embryology Bill not just removing the requirement for the presence of a father in a relationship before IVF would be provided, but now giving single unattached women the right to receive IVF treatment.

In my opinion yet another bit of New Labour Lunacy.

kernow · 28-07-2008, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Bear

Where I have concern, great concern, is the recent change with the Human Fertilisation And Embryology Bill not just removing the requirement for the presence of a father in a relationship before IVF would be provided, but now giving single unattached women the right to receive IVF treatment.

In my opinion yet another bit of New Labour Lunacy.

I agree with your sentiments on this, but I'll never move on my objection to homosexual couples bringing up children!

Anthony Butcher · 28-07-2008, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Bear

Where I have concern, great concern, is the recent change with the Human Fertilisation And Embryology Bill not just removing the requirement for the presence of a father in a relationship before IVF would be provided, but now giving single unattached women the right to receive IVF treatment.

There are far too many people who regard having children as a right, rather than a responsibility.

I think that another interesting question to ask would be:

Is it OK for people living in poverty to have children? (new thread)

Anthony Butcher · 28-07-2008, 08:59 PM

I just moved youcanhandlethetruth's post to the other thread.

28-07-2008, 07:19 AM	#232 (permalink)
The Bear Uber Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: East Anglia Posts: 2,178	Personally I believe that the marital state of a couple, be it a heterosexual couple or a homosexual couple, who are in a stable committed long term relationship should never be a factor in the matter of parenthood. Where I have concern, great concern, is the recent change with the Human Fertilisation And Embryology Bill not just removing the requirement for the presence of a father in a relationship before IVF would be provided, but now giving single unattached women the right to receive IVF treatment. In my opinion yet another bit of New Labour Lunacy. __________________ I am an old man. I have eaten much salt.

28-07-2008, 08:59 PM	#235 (permalink)
Anthony Butcher Administrator Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Long Ashton, Bristol Posts: 10,205 Party: None	I just moved youcanhandlethetruth's post to the other thread. __________________ If you care about what's in your food and where it comes from, then get it labelled! Label My Food - http://www.labelmyfood.org.uk

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