forced sterilization

[Ledifni]

The right at issue is the right to bodily integrity. Bodily integrity is not a privilege, and forced sterilization is a violation of bodily integrity. Most people would not believe that, after a person steals a certain number of times, we should cut off their hands, or that after a child runs away from home a certain number of times, we should cut off their legs.

No, because hands and legs can be used for many things other than stealing or running away (not that I believe a child who runs away has really committed a crime). Punishments like that are cruel and unusual, done for the purpose of terror and vengeance rather than to correct a social ill.

Forced sterilization, on the other hand, leaves a person completely functional except for one difference: they can't do the thing that was causing harm to begin with. They can't procreate.

But the right to bodily integrity is regularly violated by our society every day. We alter and manipulate the bodies of the criminally insane; we perform surgeries against the patient's will in many cases; we prevent suicide and drug use because we think it's harmful to the patient. Why don't these same considerations apply in the case of child welfare?

I believe that bodily integrity is a fundamental right, and forced sterilization would be interfering with that. That is not to say that requiring someone to be on a semi-permanent birth control method, like an IUD or Depo shots, until they can prove they are capable of raising a child, is a bad thing, providing that person has proven to be incapable of making responsible procreative and childrearing decisions that have adversely affected their current children. But, to forcibly remove someone's ovaries is another issue altogether.

I'm certainly not talking about removing somebody's ovaries. That would have major adverse affects on her health aside from the inability to procreate. I'm talking about tubal ligation or other less-invasive procedures. IUD would definitely be an option providing the patient couldn't remove it herself.

 

[Tangnefedd]

Whilst I agree that it is unfortunate that people like this woman can reproduce, I think that forced sterility would cause more problems than it solves where civil liberties are concerned!

 

[Monica02]

My oh my - so many people thinking that they have a right to tell someone to not have children. Since when is a civil authority the author of life? Lets also not forget that sterilization is a sin.

 

[Lokisdottir]

Lets also not forget that sterilization is a sin.

Waidaminute... since when??

 

[Tangnefedd]

Who on earth thinks sterilisation is a sin? I decided I didn't want to give birth to anymore kids when I was 26, having three already, and I was sterilised!

 

[Monica02]

Waidaminute... since when??

Since the begining of time - the Church has always taught this. Now some people refuse to believe Church teaching - but the Church still teaches that sterilization is wrong.

 

[Tangnefedd]

Which Church??????????????

 

[skipper]

I missed a post a while back snowyde2003 said forced sterilization was barberic, my answer to this is isn't putting doornobs on backwards so you can lock children in a room for hour upon hour barberic, what about putting a 5 year old in a baby crib with a lid on it, I could give you a list of things that happened to these specific children that were so much more barberic. Shouldn't they have a punishment, should they be allowed to keep doing these things. They only do it until the child is old enough to tell and then they give them away to the state before the state has a chance to take the child. Once the children are given away then someone hopefully can help them so far with these children the parents have been fairly successful, they will always have problems but they are working on them. What about the next group of children what if they aren't as successful in healing. Do you actually want this person living next to you or perhaps becoming your son or daughter in law. Its a cycle that we need to brake someway.

 

[knightlight72]

They are having babies for a reason. Only God gives children to us. It is His gift, and ultimately, we don't have any say in it. So respctfully, we have no say in this. We can deal with it, if the parents can't handle it.

Well if that is the case, God better wise up and stop sending babies to people who can't handle them!!!!!

I wasn't sure if you are serious. But do you feel God isn't the creator of all life?

Do you feel God doesn't know what he's doing?

 

[knightlight72]

I have been touched by these children I adopted one and will take the rest when the time comes and because I know that the time will come. But Iam fairly sure that even if the next group of children are placed in care the parents will continue to have children. She is only 34 so if she continues to produce children at the rate in which she is, she could produce an additional 10 children or possible more. How can you say that this is her right. I do not believe that God thinks this is right. God gave us free will but it doesn't make Him responsible that these people keep having babies that they don't care for, anymore than it makes Him responsible for the fact that someone murders people.

God creates life. I am not saying God wants us to let children suffer. But I am saying that we do not have a right to stop life that God wants to be born.

 

[Exhausted]

God creates life. I am not saying God wants us to let children suffer. But I am saying that we do not have a right to stop life that God wants to be born.

Well, technically, no one should have the right to have consensual, homosexual sex, according to the church. I don't believe that stopped anyone.

 

[Monica02]

Which Church??????????????

The Christian Church.

 

[Lycaenidae]

Since the begining of time - the Church has always taught this. Now some people refuse to believe Church teaching - but the Church still teaches that sterilization is wrong.

Well, the church needs to wake up and smell the overpopulation.

 

[Lycaenidae]

I'd like to get one thing straight. Sterilization should not apply only to the women in these cases.

 

[Ledifni]

The Christian Church.

Monica, I understand why you're putting it this way, since you believe as you do, but you should face the practical situation in the world. You may believe that you are still the one and only valid Church, but the fact is that there are many, many other churches than just yours. Whether they are heretical is a completely different question that has nothing to do with their existence.

So for the sake of everybody here, to reduce confusion and pointless dialogue, will you please just bite the bullet and call it "the Roman Catholic Church?" Please?

 

[Monica02]

Well, the church needs to wake up and smell the overpopulation.

The teaching of God cannot change. The whims of particular generations of people cannot change the Truth.

 

[Monica02]

Monica, I understand why you're putting it this way, since you believe as you do, but you should face the practical situation in the world. You may believe that you are still the one and only valid Church, but the fact is that there are many, many other churches than just yours. Whether they are heretical is a completely different question that has nothing to do with their existence.

So for the sake of everybody here, to reduce confusion and pointless dialogue, will you please just bite the bullet and call it "the Roman Catholic Church?" Please?

All Christians are somehow connected to the Catholic Church, each in various degrees of communion. All Christians should understand that sterilization is wrong. I will refer to the Catholic Church as the Church if I wish.

 

[Yusuf Evans]

Hey I agree! Though I will probably be yelled at by other Christians for agreeing...but geesh...the kids are taken due to abuse and neglect?

Seeing incidences of child abuse and endagerment tick me off. So, dont' worry Whitestar, more Christians are behind you than against about this issue. Children are a gift and blessing from the Lord, and for us to abuse that is unthinkable. They need to be locked away. As for the sterilization part, hey, they make pedophiles do it, why not abusive parents.

 

[Spherical Time]

Having read about the examples of actual forced sterilization by governments, I cannot wish that upon any person. If someone wants to sterilize themself though, that is their choice.

 

[Tangnefedd]

I wasn't sure if you are serious. But do you feel God isn't the creator of all life?

Do you feel God doesn't know what he's doing?

I don't think God has any physical input into the world today, even if he kicked off evolution. If however he does, and he sends babies to folk who aren't capable of parenting them, then the old guy certainly doesn't know what he is doing and should hand over to someone who is a bit more clued up!