Punish women who won't name 'unknown fathers' - AN
The government has the moral obligation to address the "shocking trend" of children being born with so-called 'unknown fathers', Azzjoni Nazzjonali said.
The fact that one in five children in Malta are registered as being the offspring of unknown fathers can only mean one of two things: either that a substantial number of women are very promiscuous, or that there is rampant social welfare abuse, AN said in a statement.
In either case, this was an unacceptable level of irresponsibility which decent citizens should refuse to put up with, much less subsidise.
"If they have no problem in sleeping around and siring children without a qualm, the least they should be obliged to do is to be made to maintain their offspring and not be left at leisure to perpetuate the problem at the taxpayer's expense," AN said.
Josie Muscat's party reiterated that benefits should be withheld from mothers who insist on not declaring the identity of the fathers of their children.
"Only in the circumstance of rape should there be an exception. This is not, as the so-called liberal writers have tried to portray it, a holy war on single mothers, but a moral obligation to bring those fathers who have been so far absolved of their obligations, to account (for) and to shoulder the consequences of their actions.
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In Discussion
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M. Mercieca
Jul 16th 2008, 02:08
A Cutajar
The problem is not DNA test. The core issue is that, our females think, the more they have reckless sex the more they are modern and stylish. Sex has become the trend of being open minded. While in fact we are heading backward.
We are stalemated. We have traded our Christians values with sex, liberty-based values. The latter, produced unsolved social dilemmas of such as the unknown fathers and out of wed-lock kids.
I am sure Jesus is not happy to see 99.9 of females having sex at the age of 14 or 15 years.
Jesus is not happy to see teenager pregnant mothers.
Jesus is not happy to see the chastity or a virgin girl has become news.
Jesus is not happy to see teenagers are immersed in both drugs and alcoholic
Jesus is not happy to see 25-30 % of our born babies are either of unknown fathers or out of wed-lock.
Ops, sorry I forgot that we are living in 2008 and we are getting modern ! But are we?
Better we blame irregular immigrants for this issue too.
Corinne Vella
Jul 15th 2008, 11:26
Valerie Scicluna: AN is obsessed with other people's sex lives. They make no mention of benefit abuse in cases that do not involve single mothers nor do they kick up half as much fuss about the inefficient use of tax money to prop up failing industries.
The hole in their argument of course is this - they cannot force anyone to discuss their sex lives without exposing themselves to the same sort of scrutiny. Now that should reveal some very interesting things - if you're interested in AN's shenanigans, that is. I'm not.
Corinne Vella
Jul 14th 2008, 16:45
L Galea: No tax money is paid out in benefits. How much social security is paid out on fraudulent claims? Incidentally, how much tax do you pay?
Corinne Vella
Jul 14th 2008, 16:44
Alexander Morana: You'll have to look elsewhere, I'm afraid. Try the top shelf of your nearest 'news' agent.
Valerie Scicluna
Jul 14th 2008, 14:40
@ Corinne Vella. AN is not obsessed with other people's sex lives. They are obsessed with other people's taxes and they,like most Maltese do not want these taxes to end up where they shouldn't....and I;m not even an AN supporter.
@ Amanda Mallia. the rapist's name doesn't have to be shown on the child's ID card but still the manpervert should be made to pay for the child's upkeep. Incidents like the one you mentioned are not as rare as we'd like them to be.Don't you think that such a despicable person should shoulder his responsibility?
Saviour Grech
Jul 14th 2008, 13:26
Well said AN. The govt. should once and for all take a stand to STOP giving any unecessary benefits to such deliberate actions. This is an extra burden on the honest tax payer. STOP!
Amanda Mallia
Jul 13th 2008, 21:17
V Farrugia - You are probably a man. No woman who bears a child as the consequence of a rape (and as a permanent reminder of such) would want to see the father's name on their child's birth certificate. In such a case, having the name of the father on the birth certificate would probably be detrimental to the child (not to mention the mother) in the long run.
Another thing - As far as I know, there are no local statistics regarding such cases. One case which comes to mind is that of a foundling who - rumour had it at the time, some 10/15 yers ago - was the result of a man raping his daughter who was then not yet a teenager. Do you think that - even had the child been brought up by the grandmother, for example, having the father's name on the birth certificate would have been beneficial to anybody at all? I doubt it, unless, of course, your mind is as warped as that of the rapist himself.
Amanda Mallia
Jul 13th 2008, 21:08
Corinne Vella - Maybe because they haven't got any of their own?
Ivan Attard
Jul 13th 2008, 15:52
@Corinne Vella
Because other people's irresponsible sex life can effect me as a taxpayer. That's why Corinne.
And it is only people like AN who have the guts to highlight this despicable act by new 'family' setups. It is because I REFUSE to subsidize this irresponsible trend.
If, however, you are happy to let this matter proliferate and finance it with your taxes than you should say so clearly and not within cryptic and sarcastic tones.
Alexander Morana
Jul 13th 2008, 15:38
@ Ms. Vella, do you have one?
L Galea
Jul 13th 2008, 15:28
Corinne,
because it is the rest of the responsible people who are paying for the "unknown fathers" (and mothers) irresponsible behaviour and enjoyment, that's why!
These irresponsible mothers and fathers are leeches who are eating away our taxes.
Corinne Vella
Jul 13th 2008, 13:59
Why is Azzjoni Nazzjonali so obsessed with other people's sex lives?
V Farrugia
Jul 13th 2008, 13:22
Rapists shouldn't be exempted from their responsability. Why should the victim have to shoulder the responsability and expense of bringing up a child by herself just because she was raped?
Let convicted rapists support their progeny for 18 years, that should make them think twice about going after some girl.
Joanne Micallef
Jul 13th 2008, 12:34
Off course some may be kind hearted enough and would rather condone and tolerate abuse, rather than take action by making these women take full responsibility for their actions, which in the long run will help educate women to value their life and wellbeing.
A Cutajar
Jul 13th 2008, 12:18
A DNA test should be made compulsory for all 'single' mothers (bar certain exceptions)applying for social benefits and who wish to declare 'father unknown' in their registration form. Resulting expenses should be paid either by the single mother or by her parents/ next of kin.
It is simply not fair that these individuals steal public monies and are rewarded because of their irresponsible behaviour! And others who have planned their family either do not get any assistance or else if they apply they are told to wait indefinitely because the budget allocated for these social benefits has been exhausted!!
THIS is social justice for all hardworking taxpayers who have to face also other pressures such as increasing electricity surcharge, unguarateed pensions, exhorbitant bank loan fees/charges/interests and poor state health services which, to add insult to injury, forces them to fork out private health expenses.
Malcolm Scicluna
Jul 13th 2008, 11:08
And what about the large number of 'single mothers' who claim an 'unknown father' just for the reason of accessing social assistance? Whilst some might even be working in black economy, or even living with the 'unkown father'? And then to top it all up they even receive subsidized electricity bills, since they are considered as social cases, at the expense of the honest man in the street!!!
Sandro Pace
Jul 13th 2008, 10:59
A very good and courageous proposal, but in the overall picture of social justice. Of course there are individual circumstances which merit exceptions, but there seems to be rampant abuse which must be addressed. For fairness sake.
We are a liberal society and rightly so, but everyone should be liable for his actions. Hassles introduced, if this is implemented, would make someone think twice about being permissive.