Should parents capable of procreating adopt?

[pdxfamily]

We are a Catholic family of 6 (four boys). We are also in the process of adopting a daughter from China. My wife and I have used NFP between our children (ages 2-10), and are using it currently since our last one. This one was particularly tough because my wife suffered temporary post-partum depression and insomnia. We are open to life, however if we get pregnant, it will be the end of our adoption since China does not allow adoption for families with more than four children.

Our motivation for adopting is multi-faceted. Naturally, we’d like a girl after having four boys. However, China faces a very serious problem with over 200,000 children being abandoned every year – most of them girls. Those girls may otherwise experience a hard life of prostitution, etc. once they leave the orphanage. Not to mention that it is still a Communist country. We look at adoption logically as an act of charity and sacrifice on behalf of the adoptive parents, even if infertility is not an issue. That being said, what is the Church’s stance on such a thing? Although it certainly doesn’t seem so, are we doing anything morally wrong?

Thanks in advance for the advice!

 

[Michelle_Arnold]

Adoption is not limited to infertile couples. So long as you remain open to life, it is not wrong to avoid procreation while trying to adopt a needy child whose home country will not allow you to adopt her if you have another child of your own. Of course, once the adoption is finalized, if it then seems feasible to try to have another child of your own, that too is a good thing. And, if your wife becomes pregnant despite use of NFP before the adoption, then you’ll have to trust God that adoption from China is something that he may not have for you to do.

Recommended reading:

God, Sex, and Babies by Christopher West