It seems that a factor would be lower fertility rates…some due to health reasons & others economic. ALso if you look it seems that less developed countries have MASSIVE birth rates…so the question…why such extremes between developed and undeveloped countries?
My guess would be more abortions. (in Europe) With abortions there is no birth, so no rise in the birth rate.
Quite right to. If some care to look at history many great men and women were illegitimate and, if you think about it, by our modern standards Jesus may not have been born out of wedlock but he was certainly concieved that way. Now there’s a though to ponder on!! Ever had the feeling he is trying to tell us something?
But using Gods standard, there is no such thing a an “illegitimate” child.
I suppose one might argue, so was Jesus. But that isn’t the point. Our behavior in a well ordered society ought to bring either “shame” or “honor”. The child however he/she is born receives neither but the parent deserves one or the other. Which is it? Which should a person receive for getting married, being faithful in marriage, and then having children?
Are you trying to say that the availability of social programs makes people seek to have children out of wedlock? If you are, I would disagree with you. I highly doubt these women are planning these pregnancies.
The men who impregnate them are also responsible. But the fact is, they can and do walk away. The main thing is, at some point around 1965 or thereabouts, women quit saying “no.”
Mary was not an unwed mother.
I’m not trying to imply they do it on purpose. But I do believe sincerely that when consequences are lessened or removed, people are less careful.
The absence of social programs may also 1) encourage them to be more careful, and 2) consider giving up a child for adoption if they cannot afford to raise it, which is a beautiful choice for the child.
I
I disagree. I’ve counsoled many young people. Many young women want to become pregnant and are active participants in becoming pregnant. I’ve run across this often enough to know that most out of wedlock pregnancies are not accidents.
Children are beloved of God no matter the circumstances of their conception or birth; and none should ever be considered “non-persons” and KathleenElsie pointed out that this is exactly what the social stigma can make them feel.
The girl who used a poor judgement, became pregnant once and is trying to do the best out a bad situation, she and her child deserves help. We should not turn our back on them. But the “repeat offenders” YES, years ago, when I was a teenager in the early 70’s, There was a neighborlady who knew how to “beat the system” If a woman had pre-school children she was not “forced” to get a job, (back then) she carefully became pregnant every 3 years, she had 5 children (different daddies for 3 of them) and then when she was done with kids by the mid 80’s she had her tubes tied courtesy of your tax dollars. Worked for about 4 months as a nurses aide, hurt her back
and has been on disability. Oldest daughter repeated the cycle, pregnant at 16. They moved away by 1988 so have no clue what she’s doing now but I can almost be certain you are paying for it.