Single moms aren't responsible for all the problems of the world. But selfishness is responsible for an awful lot of them.
Somebody- I forget who, and whoever it was deserves to be forgotten- recently accused cultural conservatives of "blaming single mothers for all the ills of the world."
Well, not really. They had comparatively little to do either with the collapse of the economy or the collapse of the Cubs in the playoffs last October, to name only two catastrophes. But it is certainly the case that as study after study has shown, kids do best in stable families with one parent of each gender. Kids aren't necessarily doomed when they have only one, but going it alone- especially with reduced financial resources- makes a tough job even harder for Mom, while often saddling the kids with gender adjustment problems or difficulties in dealing with members of the opposite sex that will likely haunt them for the long term, if not all their lives.
Even two parents have a tough time making a go of it and supporting one or two kids these days. Now, this is not a question of judging single moms- including, specifically, that seemingly rather clueless single mom who recently gave birth to octuplets. Nor is it a question of letting single fathers (deadbeat or not) off the hook. What it is is a question of judging behavior- self-centered and irresponsible behavior that has reached the status of becoming one of our greatest social problems. That's something Jesus not only doesn't forbid, but enjoins over and over again.
We have become so caught up in our own wants and desires, and so indifferent to the welfare of the kids we conceive, that about a third of American children are now born out of wedlock. And that is nothing less than a sociological disaster.
It isn't a question of judging the moms. It's a question of speaking up on behalf of the kids.
Somebody has to care about them- and neither holding them for forty-five minutes a day nor looking forward to the (possibly illusory) day when, having finished school, one might be able to choose between supporting them adequately and giving them a bit more attention than forty-five minutes each per day comes close to cutting it.
Irresponsible sexuality and babies as playthings are of a piece with abortion on demand (at a time when there is a huge surplus of qualified families who want to adopt) and casual divorce. People have become expendible in our society, consequences just don't concern us, and nobody matters but number one.
And people get hurt as a result.
Well, not really. They had comparatively little to do either with the collapse of the economy or the collapse of the Cubs in the playoffs last October, to name only two catastrophes. But it is certainly the case that as study after study has shown, kids do best in stable families with one parent of each gender. Kids aren't necessarily doomed when they have only one, but going it alone- especially with reduced financial resources- makes a tough job even harder for Mom, while often saddling the kids with gender adjustment problems or difficulties in dealing with members of the opposite sex that will likely haunt them for the long term, if not all their lives.
Even two parents have a tough time making a go of it and supporting one or two kids these days. Now, this is not a question of judging single moms- including, specifically, that seemingly rather clueless single mom who recently gave birth to octuplets. Nor is it a question of letting single fathers (deadbeat or not) off the hook. What it is is a question of judging behavior- self-centered and irresponsible behavior that has reached the status of becoming one of our greatest social problems. That's something Jesus not only doesn't forbid, but enjoins over and over again.
We have become so caught up in our own wants and desires, and so indifferent to the welfare of the kids we conceive, that about a third of American children are now born out of wedlock. And that is nothing less than a sociological disaster.
It isn't a question of judging the moms. It's a question of speaking up on behalf of the kids.
Somebody has to care about them- and neither holding them for forty-five minutes a day nor looking forward to the (possibly illusory) day when, having finished school, one might be able to choose between supporting them adequately and giving them a bit more attention than forty-five minutes each per day comes close to cutting it.
Irresponsible sexuality and babies as playthings are of a piece with abortion on demand (at a time when there is a huge surplus of qualified families who want to adopt) and casual divorce. People have become expendible in our society, consequences just don't concern us, and nobody matters but number one.
And people get hurt as a result.
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