What about adoption?

I am a 70-year-old grandfather brought up in a Catholic environment with early teachings to believe that a child has a strict right to life.

Since then, I have had many years to consider the hugely difficult situations many women and (girls) must face.

I now fully support the law in our society which gives the decision of birth or termination solely to the woman involved.

However, I strongly question whether we, as a Canadian society, are providing enough positive incentives and support for the women who feel that they are not in a position to give birth and bring up a child.

I do not believe that we, in any way, are encouraging and supporting the option for the woman to consider adoption. I am convinced that the dogmatic approach of a ‘right to life’ with no active support is not necessarily the answer. I would like to think that a more constructive approach, which celebrates the child and supports the woman from initial stages of pregnancy to adoption after birth, may indeed give the world many more unborn children and perhaps even create more an attitude of pride for placing a healthy child in a situation where support and love can be provided.

I am perplexed as to why I don’t hear more of the choice for the woman to put the child up for adoption. By all indication, the wait to adopt a child in our country is very lengthy, to the point of individuals and couples searching world-wide and paying enormous fees to have a child which they can call their own.

Why is the option for the woman to consider adoption not more readily available and well known?

And if adoption is considered a viable option, why is the woman not offered more immediate services besides just the future placement of her child?

I believe that we need to provide professional support in every way possible from the very outset.

From day one professional counsellors representing our health care system could provide moral, psychological and even financial assistance along with immediate matching services.

Why would a teenage girl or a woman in a very difficult situation anxiously consider having a child in our existing environment? But perhaps with a supportive, well thought out adoption alternative, there might now exist a very positive third option.

Unwanted or unplanned pregnancies, from whatever situation imaginable, is a reality that we have always had, and will continue to have, in our society for the foreseeable future.

We also have a great number of people who again for a number of reasons will not be able to have children of their own.

Why can’t we (interested individuals, groups, churches, governments) come up with an adoption system that would assist women (particularly those who need support) to consider this choice? From my perspective everyone wins, particularly the child!

John Power is a resident of Charlottetown.