Letters

Why not adoption?

Tom King

Contents - Apr 2010 - Buy a copy now Homily: Easter - from death to eternal life - Pope Benedict XVI More Australian Anglicans respond to Benedict XVI's invitation - AD2000 Report News: The Church Around the World Irish child abuse scandal and cover-ups: bishops meet with Pope - Michael Gilchrist Formation: Young Australian Catholics commit to promoting Judeo-Christian values - Richard Lyons Bishop Kevin Rhoades: Tribute to an outstanding American Church leader - Fr John Trigilio Religious freedom: UK Catholic schools forced to teach homosexuality in the classrooms - Babette Francis Foundations of Faith: How do Catholics relate to non-Christians? - Fr Dudley Perera OMI Jerusalem: Catholic soldiers' World War I military pilgrimage in the Holy Land - Tom Johnstone Real Presence: Eucharistic Adoration: ultimate weapon of spiritual warfare - Fr Martin Durham Letters: Debate needed - Fr Bernard McGrath Letters: Rosary - John R. Barich Letters: Family - Arnold Jago Letters: No citadels - Arthur N. Ballingall Letters: Why not adoption? - Tom King Books: CREED OR CHAOS: Why Christians Must Choose Either Dogma or Disaster, Sayers - Terri Kelleher (reviewer) Books: FROM HERMES TO BENEDICT XVI: Faith and Reason in Modern Catholic Thought - Tracey Rowland (reviewer) Books: WEDNESDAY WARRIORS: Doing it for the Jumper, by James Gilchrist - David Perrin (reviewer) Poetry: Jerusalem, Town of Contrasts - John O'Brien Books: Order books from www.freedompublishing.com.au Reflection: The Resurrection: cornerstone of the Christian faith - Fr Dennis Byrnes

The issue of surrogacy support by Queensland's Labor Government has raised concerns about an emerging identity crisis. Here the political, media and church attention served as a welcome diversion from the government-subsidised abortion growth industry.

At the very time we have politicians pondering about the volume of immigration needed to satisfy future industrial expansion in certain areas, the silence surrounding abortion is palpable.

While this issue has been skirted by all political players in what was promoted as a principled debate. we cannot claim to be honest or objective until church, state and media promote adoption as an alternative to abortion for vulnerable women.

Queensland's adoption service should be above party political manipulation and it would be interesting to know of the situation in other States.

In Queensland 57 children were available for transfer to awaiting, suitable adoptive parents during the period 2005 to 2009.

However, while couples await on the register for an infant, some 20,000 potential Australians are aborted in Queensland.

TOM KING
Mansfield, Qld

Reprinted from AD2000 Vol 23 No 3 (April 2010), p. 15