Well, after all this time, it is odd that you should post this, but I am going to make my re-entry into CAF on your post.
I adopted my granddaughters. I know other Catholic parents who have adopted related children. I have to tell you, I think your opinion of the fourth commandment is a tad skewed. ::ducking:: If my eldest, their biomother, were to come with me with such a proposition, that I was not their mother under the fourth commandment and not entitled to to the title âMomâ based on the commandments, I would probably roll on the floor with laughter. If she had a fiance who came to me with such thought, I would tell him to leave my house.
I have read through your posts on this matter. I think you have a problem with the fact that your in-laws adopted the young woman who is your fianceâs biological child. Admittedly, your future MIL has a bit of an attitude problem.
However, legally, and as far as the Church is concerned as well (and I will direct you in a minute to what I have on the Church and adoption), your in-laws are now her parents. They ARE her mother and father. She WILL, and should, call them Mom and Dad (My younger two alternate between that and âNon and Popâ).
The Catholic Church has long fostered adoption. In the US in the 19th and 20th century, the Church was one of the first places a foundling was taken. As one of the links to which I will direct you states, adoption occured among the Hebrews not by mere law, which would have made the child property, a slave; but by COVENANT, by vows and promises believed to be stronger than biology.
http://www.nccbuscc.org/prolife/programs/rlp//97rlpdes.shtml
The Church so respects adoption that it treats the adoptive parents on the childâs baptismal certificate as if they were the only parents, and the adoptive parents are not mentioned.
nccbuscc.org/norms/877-3.htm
St. Paul calls us to an adoptive relationship with God the Father, namely sonship. We are all Godâs adoptive children when we are baptized. Therefore, I can hardly think Godâs Church would have a negative attitude toward adoptive parents.
The larger community does not legally take the place of the extended family; in fact, in most states, adoption of related persons is easier than those who are not of the same bloodline. Further, in ancient Israel, people still lived in tribes, although they were settled tribes. Those tribes consisted of extended family. They also had widows marrying their dead husbandâs brother(s) to perpetuate his issue, meaning the first-born of the new union was indeed the dead manâs son, a form of necro-adoption.
When you mention 2197 of the CCC, you donât take into acocunt that not only are they her legal parents, but her
biological grandparents.
What it boils down to is this- It rankles you big time that the kid calls her adoptive parents Mom and Dad. There is nothing you can do about that.
You are not married yet, right? You are on the outside, just getting in. If the kid is 10, she has been going through this for most of her life. I would tread lightly if I was in your situation. You only have your fianceâs side of the story, and you donât seem to be inclined to listen to other sides of the matter.
Other than that, once you are married, you have no duty to his parents other than food, clothing and shelter- and those donât have to be yours, do not have to be filet mignon while you eat beans, and donât have to be designer while you wear Goodwill. Your fiance and you donât seem to be able to get along with them. Perhaps it is time to consider the matter of creating some distance.
Iâm going to go do some more research on the matter of adoptive parents and the Fourth Commandment. I suggest you go talk with your priest regarding the matter, and see what he thinks about your exegesis of the 4th. Other than that, I pray for you, and have been since I started my lurk status. You seem to be in a tough situation.
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