Health Minister Louis Deguara said that the number of babies born to unwed mothers during 2006 was almost double that were so born in 2000. The number in fact increased from 429 to 812 last year. He also said that 504 of these babies were born to unwed mothers aged between 15 and 24; and four mothers were under 15.
The number of women under 24 who are single mothers is particularly worrying because sometimes they "solve" their problem by creating a greater problem: a hurried marriage.
Like all statistics these can be given different interpretation. On a positive note one can say that during 2006 there were 812 single mothers who chose life not death. They could have easily committed abortion but decided against it. This is in itself something positive and the Christian community should help women who make a pro-life choice to honour it to the full.
On the other hand, these figures are a clear indication that sex before and outside of marriage is on the increase. We did not need these figures to persuade us but these statistics are further proof. This is negative not only from a Christian point of view but also from a common good point of view.
The best environment for a new born baby is a united family. Whenever this environment is acking, problems can ensue. Promiscuity and/or relationships outside marriage do not strengthen the common good.
...or choosing to suit ourselves
Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor of Westminster has criticised proposals to allow lesbians to become joint legal parents of children created for them through in vitro fertilisation (IVF). This will be made possible by the provisions in the Human Fertilisation and Embryology bill.
In a letter to the The Times of London, the cardinal said: "The bill proposes to remove the need for IVF providers to take into account the child's need for a father when considering an IVF application and to confer legal parenthood on people who have no biological relationship to a child born as a result of IVF.
"This radically undermines the place of the father in a child's life and makes the natural rights of the child subordinate to the desires of the couple," he said. "It is profoundly wrong."
Under the proposals such children will have no legal fathers because the partner of the mother will be registered as the "second parent".
There are fears that the bill will be hijacked by pro-abortion politicians to make access to abortion easier. Britain's current annual tally of 200,000 abortions is one of the highest in Europe.