“The family is the first and the most important. It is a path common to all, yet one which is particular, unique and unrepeatable, just as every individual is unrepeatable; it is a path from which man cannot withdraw. Indeed, a person normally comes into the world within a family, and can be said to owe to the family the very fact of his existing as an individual. When he has no family, the person coming into the world develops an anguished sense of pain and loss, one which will subsequently burden his whole life.”
The Pope is saying that everyone stems from a family and the absence of the family leads to problems which the person has to struggle with their whole lives. It is central to each human being and uniquely formative for each soul.
The news story that was most interesting and disturbing was the "Pregnant Man". Recently, a transgender man named Thomas Beatie appeared on Oprah Winfrey's talk show discussing his condition. Here is a news video reporting on the story.
One of the comments made by Thomas Beatie stated, "It is not a male or female desire to have a child. It's a human desire." Oprah Winfrey later states that Beatie's pregnancy was "a new definition of what diversity means for everybody." Nancy, Beatie's wife, is commenting that the pregnancy is completely normal.
These types of comments permeate our country's thought today. This is obviously a more secular worldview discussing rights and liberties. Nobody today wants to withhold anyone his or her rights, but I would like to argue that the right for all genders to biologically have children is not a right. It is something inherent to each gender. One of the special feminine gifts given specifically to women is the ability to bring children into this world. It is ok to for all genders to desire children, but not biologically. I know there are men out there who desire to be fathers and it is definitely possible, but with the help of a female counterpart!
This story was absolutely stunning for me. There are many implications. What happens, now that this type of pregnancy has become a phenomena, to the institution of marriage? What different roles will dads play in the lives of their children as well as moms? This type of "right", which is to have a child even though it is limited biologically, is not a right. Also, will this type of family have issues later on? What about the baby girl about to be born? What will this make of the beautiful, intimate bond created by sexual intercourse? Is everyone now allowed to give birth, no matter what gender, age, etc.? Where will the lines be drawn? Will this change the legality of marriage and its benefits?
This type of perverse family cannot be healthy nor express what is truly good and real for the individual members involved.
1 comment:
I had never heard about this story and I randomly decided to watch Oprah on Thursday when it was featured. I was so disturbed by the whole thing and I whole-heartedly agree that this will cause issues for the family in so many ways. It is ironic that I found out only a day earlier that I got into grad school for family therapy and then I watch that on the television and realize how much I've got my work cut out for me! I think it is really interesting to that the trans gender community is not supportive of this pregnancy. They find it to go against a lot of the values that they hold and they feel that in many ways it is a publicity stunt. I cannot imagine the problems that face that child when she finds out that she was born by her father. The world keeps getting stranger....
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