Adoption of mentally impaired babies

[Catholic_Lady]

CL,

We agree that care for the child is paramount. I agree with your attachment considerations in older children. You didn't state it, but seem to agree that adoption of the older child would be immoral. 

I think where we differ is that I put much more weight on the obligations of the parents. To give up the child for adoption because they don't think they can cope is unconscionable. In addition, this sort of acceptance can be used to justify the following:

- family wants a daughter, baby born with penis, can't cope; therefore adoption.
- family of musicians learn that their infant is deaf, can't cope; therefore adoption.


In fact, it doesn't really matter then what the underlying reason is, as long as the parents claim an inability to cope then there is nothing immoral about giving kids up. 

In my opinion, as long as parents are capable of caring and providing for their children, they have a moral obligation to do so. As I said earlier, if able parents adopt out their children simply because they can't cope, they should be made to materially provide for that child.

I like/understand what you said about parents having a moral responsibility. And I agree.

However, I don't think adoption would ever be something that ppl take so lightly as to just *look* for excuses to give their babies away. Especially for such a dumb reason as wanting a boy and getting a girl. Its very emotionally difficult to give away your little one, and i imagine not something ppl would just do unless under extreme circumstances. Not to mention pregnancy most certainly is not a walk in the park, and most ppl who would go through the selfless act of a 9 months pregnancy for the sake of giving their child life, would more than likely care enough not to give them away unless they truly thought it was for the child's best interest.

Ultimately I think it's more ideal if the biological parents are able to find the strength to take on such a heavy situation. But I don't think it is immoral if they truly feel that another family would be better equipped and so made arrangements for that. I would actually applaud them for their sacrifice to ensure that their baby got the best life possible.