Friday, September 26, 2008

Selling wombs and eggs

I couldn't even read this entire article, the whole issue bothers me so.
In India, Surrogacy Has Become a Global Business

This article points out the need for a new religious infrastructure. Laws cannot take the place of personal moral guidelines and community infrastructure.

Connections must be established between individuals bearing children and the communities that will insure the safety, support, and livelihood of those children. While single parenting is common, even raising children with two parents requires a support infrastructure of trusted others. In the absence of that, greed, economics, and laws are no substitute. The fertility industry operating on its own economic incentives can be the equivalent of selling babies, which is pretty much universally disdained.

Many couples have children, and then search for the suitable infrastructure -- schools, churches, etc. Imagine the advantages of a group of people agreeing to mutual support *before* conception. A broader network would provide support even in the event of divorce. However, agreements would need to be made in advance on various decisions (including whether procreation is appropriate), otherwise, the burden is foisted upon others without their consent, based on legal obligation or emotional guilt. That is no way to bring children into the world.

No comments: