'Unknown father' should be abolished

Anthony White

Dec 22nd 2009, 12:35

More often than not - the mother does not see it fit to disclose who the father is.
There can be finacial situations where its better not to say.
Many times the father could be in a situation where he cannot be disclosed owing that it would destroy his marriage to his wife and his family.
We are only human and very often a quick chance to enjoy the pleasures of someone else comes up its part of the fun. Then we have to face the consequences.
Maybe the Father is later found that he is unfit to be a father and could be a danger to the mother and child.
It is futile interfering with a situation that a mother may find that it is better to say "I don't know than to be made to look like a prostitute because of the twisted attitudes of those that continually wish to interfere in other peoples business.
Sometimes it is better to let sleeping dogs to lay and keep your nose out.

M.Cassar

Dec 20th 2009, 09:39

Please note that according to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, articles 7 & aricle 8 speak clearly about the right of the child to know who his parents ARE as part of his identity.

J Martinelli

Dec 19th 2009, 22:46

@ SMicallef

So, what you imply is that the 'father' impregnated his partner to take revenge on her later? Are you talking about a sane person? And why would a child be dragged to court crying? I tell you why. It is because they did not know their father at their most critical and formative years, that's why.

If a father is identified and both mother and father given proper guidance by private agencies, church and government organizations, then there will be no resistance from the child to either parent. You actually enforce my argument that it is absolutely necessary for the infant to know both parents and for the parents to maintain, however tenuously, their common bond - the child - the product of the two!

The problem with 'unknown fathers' is that they regard the female as a sex object at worst and a baby machine at best. Both disgusting the way I see it.

If we have degraded our society that much, then why not use legalized prostitution as a solution to the sex seeking young males? That would be progress in some degenerate minds.

Fifty euros - next!

Julia Bonett

Dec 19th 2009, 17:53

The unknown father is simply just an excuse ! DNA DNA DNA !!! and poor kids what they have to go through with such an issue. The father should have the matienance money for the child deducted from the wages - as for starters what many fathers contribute is simply peanuts or nothing at all ! The single parent benifts isnt much for the parent to live on ! The state should work on a better system for all - the interest here after all is THE CHILD !!

Ludwig Flask

Dec 19th 2009, 16:21

"… reduced communication in the family,…" the result to most problems within a familty!

lgalea

Dec 19th 2009, 15:59

SMicallef
Deduct maintenance from his wages/salary and if he doesn't work give his social assistance to the mother and his child and if he tries to take it away or threaten the mother or child throw him in prison.

patrick bellia

Dec 19th 2009, 15:22

@ Ramon casha

i agree with the principle, but what will happen when a mother truly does not know who the father was? I dont think that one need to go to Oxford University to solve the problem, Simple She will find a job.

SMicallef

Dec 19th 2009, 15:12

Martinelli:
Once a father is registered then he would in many cases use his 'rights' as the biological father to take revenge on his ex partner by dragging her to court leading to court orders that do not truly respect the child's wishes/well being. I know of cases where kids are literally forced to see their father at Appogg even when the child is crying/refusing to see him. These fathers prefer to make these poor kids go through such torture aslong as they are getting their way at attacking the mother.
Do you think that a child is not affected by this? This theory that kids need a father is stretched beyond limits. So what about all the widows - shall the state start forcing them to remarry so that the kids can have a new father in their life???And the bottom line is - will these fathers bother to pay the maintenance that is ordered by court - I know of many cases where they DON'T. So where does that leave us:
A damaged child with no financial assistance from the father and a mother who had to fork out all to pay for legal costs.

Peter Bonnici

Dec 19th 2009, 15:09

@ James Tyrell. Don't be funny, youngsters having unprotected sex has nothing to do with Church Teaching. If they wanted to obey the Church they would refrain from pre-marital sex in the first place, wouldn't they?

@ Ramon Casha. Spot on, benefits only apply to mothers who name the father. I would add that the father is charged through his taxes to make up for the social benefit. Unless he pays maintenance, in which case she will not need social benefits. Its a win-win.

Joseph Calleja

Dec 19th 2009, 14:59

First of all, there is no such thing as unknown father, unless the mother was delirious(out of her mind) in that passionate moment. Making a baby takes a man and a woman facing each other and I'm sure the woman can see exactly who the man is. Have the parents of the mother be responsible for their daughter and grandchild, and I am sure the daughter will confess to who the father is.Stop the monetary assistance till the father is found and then hold him responsible. This whole situation of unknown father syndrome is a joke and must be stopped. Blame should be put on th parents and the government for encouraging such a practice. Where is the Church in all this? How can a father deny his own flesh and blood? Forsi sirna moderni hafna. Unknown father own up to your responsibilities.

rhuber

Dec 19th 2009, 14:20

I'm a male so the problem does not really affect me much. But I still believe that woman have the right to remain silent on who the father of her offspring is. For one if my mother was raped and she kept me in her womb I wouldn’t want to know who my father was! As regarding to beneficial assistance it’s another problem. If for example the child was conceived on a one night stand than I as a citizen do not feel I should be made responsible for funding the upbringing of the child, however the child is also not responsible for being among us today and so as a civilized generation we should help.

However, the father who got the mother pregnant should not be left scot-free and while all paternal rights should be taken away from him he should be made responsible and forge out whatever is needed for the upbringing of the child. In to-days world there is no excuse of ignorance about sex and we all know that what goes in has to come out.

victor pulis

Dec 19th 2009, 13:10

It is very easy to find out who the father is. All babies are produced in the same manner so the mother should know. If there are more than one partner, then DNA testing would determine the father's identity. It is not fair that responsibility is dumped on the tax payer. Most of the mothers do know who the father is for very obvious reasons and they receive some form of financial help from the father. This racket has been going for far too long.

Paul Barrett

Dec 19th 2009, 12:48

I agree that every effort should be made to make fathers responsible and contribute towards the upbringing of their children (and DNA testing may well be a useful tool to assist mothers who do not know who the father is).
Some of the other suggestions however smell of state micro-managing family life - yes to helping those that ask for or are obviously in need of help but otherwise the state should allow a family the right to live without interference by "big brother".

J Martinelli

Dec 19th 2009, 12:47

Finally, a step in the right direction regarding this matter. There is no such thing as 'father unknown' and this made-in-Malta tactic is simply to get an allowance from the government whilst the 'unknown father' goes Scot free.

@ S Micallef

Why would children be dragged into law suits?

@ Ramon Casha

You're right. Removal of 'unknown father' will accomplish two important things: 1. Give the right to the children to know who their real fathers are, and 2. Reduce the abuse to the Social Services budget by cutting off those still unable to say who the father is and by getting the known fathers to take part responsibility for the upkeep of their children.

In cases where the father remains unknown due to the mother having had several partners, then DNA testing will identify the daddy!

Adrian Gouder

Dec 19th 2009, 12:41

@Ramon Casha: I agree, if the mother honestly does not know who the father is then what?

Also, if the committee truly have the child's well being in mind then they should also consider that in many cases Unknown Father is best thing for the children. Forcing a father into it certainly will not make them better parents.

Some fathers simply don't care and its counter-productive on the children's well being. Still, if not knowing who the father is, is the problem, then there should be no finantial disadvantage whatsover.

James A. Tyrrell

Dec 19th 2009, 12:40

Or you could just decide to change the churches outdated laws on the use of condoms and reduce the number of accidental pregnancies.

Anthony Farrugia

Dec 19th 2009, 12:35

Some posts still harp on that the mother does not know who the father is; are we talking about multiple relationships going on at the same time? Well there is a definition for such a situation..................................

SMicallef

Dec 19th 2009, 11:23

Why register the father? The mother would need to pay through the nose to take him to court so he pays for maintenance. In many cases, REGARDLESS of the father's income, the court orders him to pay a pitiful Lm80 per month. If he doesnt pay, the mother will have to once again pay for court case to make the father pay. I know of many cases where the father prefers not to appear in court and pay fine then show up to face up to paying maintenance for his offspring. This at a great financial/emotional/psychological burden on the mother and the children. It's a farce! In many countries once the father is registered, the maintenance is automatically struck off his salary by the employer - so there's no way the father can run away from the financial responsibilies towards the offspring. Here in Malta there are cases that have dragged on for a decade or more with the mother not getting maintenance for the kids!? How fair is that??

Patrick Sacco

Dec 19th 2009, 11:00

@Ramon Casha
How can a woman not know who her partner is? Was she blindfolded and a man came into her bedroom? U halluna? Remove all their social benefits and you'll see how serious and responsible they become. I am fed up paying taxes for someone else's irresponsibility. Nuff said.

lgalea

Dec 19th 2009, 10:58

James Dimech
You are right. Those who enjoy themselves should pay for the outcome of their enjoyment.

Ramon Casha
Truly doesn't know? How come? Did she sleep with the whole town? In that case forced DNA should be ordered and the father made to pay his dues and shoulder his responsibility.

This reminds me of the story where a daughter told her mother that she was pregnant and that she didn't know who the father was. Here mother sent her to her room and told her not to go out until she remembered. After a while the daughter came out and tole her she remembered. When her mother asked her who the father was she replied that he must be one of the 11 from the football team.

James Dimech

Dec 19th 2009, 10:40

the government should use this to call upon the "fathers" to pay up their fair share social benefits given to the single mother. Hard working citizens have had enough of paying through their noses for other people's messes which they bring upon themselves.

Ramon Casha

Dec 19th 2009, 10:38

I agree with the principle, but what will happen when a mother truly does not know who the father was? How about making certain social benefits dependent on registering the father instead? That way, having "unknown father" would turn into a financial disadvantage instead of an advantage.

S Micallef

Dec 19th 2009, 10:31

What a whole load of rubbish! That's it - put more children into further misery by getting dragged into lawsuits by men seeking revenge on their ex partner.

C.Sammut

Dec 19th 2009, 10:12

The government might find it cheaper to offer dna testing in case the mother is confused!