Adopting an aborted baby

[Nebrexan]

"A California couple signed adoption papers ... so the husband could adopt his wife’s two previously aborted children and give them his last name."

The World’s First Posthumous Adoption of an Aborted Child?

 

[Montanablue]

My first thought was "How bizarre," but then I read the article. I'm actually really touched by her husband's gesture. I used to work at a crisis pregnancy center that had a program for post-abortive women, and it was very very rare to find supportive husbands or boyfriends. Most of them wanted nothing to do with their wife/girlfriend's coming to terms with what they had done and going through the grieving and healing process.

 

[Webservant]

You can't adopt an aborted baby any more then you can baptize one. I don't mean to seem cold or uncaring, but this is futile at best.

 

[Montanablue]

I think the point is more to acknowledge the baby's existence and personhood. Women grieving for an aborted baby have a very difficult time of it, because so few people will even acknowledge that an aborted baby was a person. Women are told that their baby isn't worthy of their grief and that they should not feel guilt over the part they played in their child's death. A concrete action affirming the baby's existence and personhood can really help an abortive mother to (a. grieve for the child she lost and (b. repent of her part in that loss.

 

[SolaScriptura]

While on the one hand I see what Rich is saying, my emotional side overwhelms my rational faculties: I think this man is doing a very gracious and compassionate thing - not for the dead, but for his wife.

 

[Grace Alone]

Hmmm, it might be a compassionate gesture, but you cannot adopt a child that is no longer living. So I think there must be a better way.

 

[Edward]

It strikes me as a somewhat Roman thing to do.

 

[PuritanCovenanter]

It would be better just to acknowledge sin and move on as King David did in Psalm 51 after having murdered his faithful soldier Uriah...

Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
(Psa 51:12)

Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.
(Psa 51:13)

Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.
(Psa 51:14)

O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.
(Psa 51:15)

For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.
(Psa 51:16)

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
(Psa 51:17)

 

[Montanablue]

While on the one hand I see what Rich is saying, my emotional side overwhelms my rational faculties: I think this man is doing a very gracious and compassionate thing - not for the dead, but for his wife.

Right - I probably should have clarified that obviously this doesn't mean anything for murdered child - that's in God's hands. Its just a symbol of the baby's existence and personhood for the mother.

 

[py3ak]

I think it's a good idea; it seems like the sort of gesture which may help people feel that abortion did, in fact, destroy a human person.

 

[OPC'n]

I think it has everything to do with healing. Obviously, the husband knows that he doesn't have adopted children. Not everything has to be done with a biblical slant. Many of us listen to secular music which has nothing to do with biblical stances. This guy was doing it out of love for his wife. Many couples who have miscarriages name their child and bury it with a full service. Obviously, they didn't baptize that child either....then again the thief of the cross wasn't baptized. I think it is a great idea! These babies were humans too!

 

[Webservant]

I think it's a good idea; it seems like the sort of gesture which may help people feel that abortion did, in fact, destroy a human person.

Fine, as long as the gesture led to the realization of the sin and drove her to Christ for forgiveness and healing, and was not seen as somehow righting the wrong of what was done. I can't question his or her motives... it's obvious that she is sorry for what happened.

 

[LawrenceU]

If the court allows it then they are affirming the fact that an unborn child is a person legally.

 

[kvanlaan]

If the court allows it then they are affirming the fact that an unborn child is a person legally.

I wonder how long this sort of body of evidence will build up before someone can take it and run with it. That is, if this guy can adopt two previously murdered children and thereby give them 'human' status, and if a man kills a pregnant woman and is sentenced for two murders, how much more of that sort of thing will it take before we can do something with it to get laws overturned?