Children are blessings, be they good or ill

Difficult? You betcha, but then nothing that brings joy, engenders self-respect and earns the admiration of others is easy. And done properly, parenthood is one of the mot rewarding and respect-worthy undertakings in the world.

Perhaps where the Canberra couples, and other parents who sue for children “wrongfully born” fail is not knowing where to draw the line. Yes, parenthood today is not what it was yesterday and most of us feel it is justified, even morally required, to exercise control where we can by contracepting, screening prenatally, choosing abortion: to avoid or refuse the hefty responsibilities of parenthood when we feel we can’t manage them and be the kind of parent we wish to be.

But at some point in the proceedings a line is crossed. The line beyond which control - responsible or otherwise - can no longer be exercised. Where the only moral option is to quit kicking and accept the outcome - the living, breathing, feeling, vulnerable outcome - with good grace and hand in hand, to step into the dark in search of light.

To say a child has been born. Let us rejoice.