Maronite Voice - Eparchy of Saint Maron of Brooklyn

What are our Rights andResponsibilities When it Comes toChildren?by Bishop Gregory MansourNews of the octuplets born in California has elicited astrong response from many people. Perhaps it wasbecause the mother was a single mom who wanted tohave more children (she already had six all from in vitrofertilization); or because her father seemed angry about allthe publicity and her mother said she preferred that herdaughter would have been a kindergarten teacher if she lovedchildren so much; or because the fertility doctor compliedwith her wishes, took an undisclosed sperm donor, fertilizedher egg, then planted eight tiny embryos in her womb.Perhaps it was because of all the above reasons thatcommentators opined that someone should regulate humanbehavior, human decisions, and should intervene in aperson’s moral decisions, which affect the lives of so many.In this case, those affected by her choices were her parents,her other children (one with special needs), her eight newchildren, the neighborhood where she lives, the hospital thatserved the premature infants and the sperm donor of theoctuplets, who is also the same for the other six children. Oneperson’s choices affect many people.After thinking of these moral concerns, I became evermore grateful to have the guidance of reason and faith,especially in the form of the recent Catholic documententitled On Human Dignity, which brings importantbioethical principles to bear on the subject of in vitrofertilization, the sacred gift of life, the dignity of the unbornchild, and what it means to be responsible parents. I wouldsummarize in my own words the document in this way:Adults do not have a right to have children, they have aresponsibility. Children have all the rights. They havethe right to come into this world in a natural way,through a loving human sexual embrace of parents wholove each other and are committed to each other inmarriage. They have the right to life and the right todignity. They have the right to parents (a man and awoman). They have the right to be raised, educated andintroduced to life with respect and love. This moralprinciple, which is really just common sense andsensitivity to children, should guide every aspect of lifefrom in vitro fertilization, to the virtue of chastity, to sexoutside marriage, to the meaning and definition ofmarriage, to responsible parenthood. Children have rights; adults have responsibilities. It isthat simple. Therefore, every sexual act, every scientificact, every human act must conform to the truth thatchildren have the right to be loved, wanted and respectedfor their own sake. Adults are morally obliged toconceive children in love, to bear them with suffering ifneeded, to accept children into this world on their (thechild’s) terms, not on adult terms, and to raise them withthe dignity they deserve.In the case of the single mother of octuplets, it seems clearthat her interests came first, not theirs. However, even if notconceived in the way they have the right to be, these children,nonetheless, are deserving of the same love and respect dueevery child. Children are always and everywhere a gift, andit is our duty as adults to appreciate this gift in a way thatpleases God. The moral principle is clear: children first,always first. Period.For more information on the wise teaching of the Churchon this matter log on to www.usccb.org/prolife/ivf. The Virgin Mary inMaronite Lifeby Brother John M. Samaha, S.M.Persecutions and similar adversities have caused theMaronite faithful to migrate soon after they began togather at the Monastery of Saint Maron on the OrontesRiver. They fled Antioch to seek a safe haven in the ruggedmountains of Lebanon early in the sixth century. Challengespersisted through the Umayyad, Fatimide, and Mamloukdynasties and continued through the duration of the OttomanththEmpire (15 to the 20 centuries). The difficulties of the lasttwo centuries were no less aggravating for Lebanon and theMaronites -- and other Eastern Christians. The massacres ofthe 1840s and 1860s; the two World Wars; and the war inthLebanon of the last quarter of the 20 century continued theflow of emigrants. Oppression, famine, strife, lack of jobopportunities, and other hardships again forced Maronitesand other Christians to migrate from the Near East not onlyto neighboring Middle Eastern countries, but also to Europe,to the Americas, and to Oceania.Always and everywhere the Blessed Virgin Mary waspart of Maronite life as the faithful persevered andestablished parishes and eparchies in their new worlds.Generations later the immigrants of the expanded Church andtheir progeny still maintain their precious heritage and striveto solidify their communities. The Maronites of today striveto preserve their religious heritage and spirituality as theycelebrate their rich liturgical and para-liturgical services, andmake efforts to hand on the Maronite tradition.Among the cherished para-liturgical services is theBenediction with the Icon of the Virgin Mary while chantingthe hymn Ya Umm Allah (O Mother of God). But often theyoung do not understand the deeper special significance, andneed some instruction and assistance toward that end. It isimportant to enlighten our younger generation about this andother revered Marian devotions received from our ancestors,and to realize why they placed themselves under the mantleof our Blessed Mother’s protection.The Maronite Church is both Apostolic and Marian, builtupon the Apostles and the love of the Virgin Mary. OurChurch has journeyed over the ages with the Virgin Mary,whose icon is engraved in every heart and honored in everyhome. Every morning and every evening and in everydifficulty our people naturally sigh Ya Adra (O BlessedVirgin). Everywhere the icon of the Virgin Mary is ourconstant companion.(Continues on page 20)The Maronite Voice Volume V Issue No. III Page 12 March 2009