ADOPTION

This is the best alternative to accepting the gift of a new life.  The opportunity arises when a man and woman are facing an unexpected pregnancy and are unprepared to accept the attendant responsibilities.  At this time, abortion is never a moral option, being the killing of a human being.  Carrying the child to term is a solemn obligation of the pregnant mother and the birth father, regardless of the circumstances within which it happened.   In this effort, there is abundant help, from religious and non-sectarian agencies alike, as well as for making the important and often heart-rending decision: to keep the child or to give it up.  In such a circumstance, placing the expected baby up for adoption is a very available and noble resolution to the problem.  The birth parents will have done their duty under difficult circumstances, and “the best interests of the child”, the controlling rule in law and in morality, will have been addressed. 

In addition, research has shown that “young, unmarried women who make an adoption plan are more likely to subsequently marry than those who choose single parenting”.  They also attain higher levels of income and education, and only 20%of unmarried mothers receive child support from the child’s father,  (from the National Council for Adoption, Alexandria, Va.).  For adoptive parents, this is an act of love just as strong as that which forms the bond between birth parents and offspring.  For, parenting has much more to do with relationships than with genetics.  Adoption is an involved process, whether the closed, semi-open or open variety, but it is worth the effort for all involved, and research shows that adopted children “have strong feelings of security within their family…do extremely well in school…attend college more often than the general population…and experience lower rates of crime and drug abuse.”  (Ibid.)

Since the act of adoption is entirely a creature of statute, all statutory requirements must be adhered to.  These vary from State to State.  In Connecticut, a licensed agency must be directly involved, not merely an attorney.  Catholic Charities and Child Adoption Resource Association of New London are two such agencies.  Since both birth parents have equal rights, both must agree to adoption, if the father can be found.  Following the pre-birth essentials, the baby may be accepted by the adoptive parents at birth or after a two week period in foster care.  Then the birth parents complete an application for Termination of Parental Rights for submission to Probate Court for a Hearing.  There follows a period of between one and four months before the TPR is approved.  Thereafter, the child is with the adoptive parents, but the adoption is not finalized for about 6 months, while the involved agency engages in further oversight.  Then it becomes finalized…a fitting and loving resolution to three interlocking problems (of birth parents, often infertile parents, and child).

Peter Moore, PhD    George A. Sprecace, M.D., J.D.