In his letter ‘Hearts of stone’ (April 23), Fr Victor Degabriele makes a sweeping statement that people are foregoing parenthood to selfishly accumulate wealth. This may be true for some but it is hardly a fair judgement.

As a woman in her 20s, I and many of my acquaintances wish to start a family over the next decade: we crave to love and nurture children. However, there are numerous hurdles that can stand in our way, forcing us to delay parenthood maybe more than other generations have. This includes finishing education in our early 20s, rent and living expenses draining our ability to accumulate savings in spite of strict budgeting, the financial demands of raising children today, inability to find reliable employment, the pressures and expectations associated with modern relationships and the precarious pension system.

We worry about the world we are bringing our children into: the tattered environment, the precarious political climate, the overwhelming academic and social pressures.

It is easy for people in authority to sit on their high horse and judge others as selfish instead of advocating for real change in society.

If Fr Degabriele and others like him wish to ensure a stronger environment for families to flourish in, then they should maybe consider demanding a living wage for all, education in schools covering financial management, conflict resolution and communication, stronger environmental policies, a community approach to raising children, equality in home responsibilities, better maternal healthcare, more research into female reproductive health, a stronger paternity leave policy, removal of discriminatory pay practices, sustainable economic growth, responsible banking and a sustainable pension system.

Finally, a meaningful existence does not depend on having children. Many people forgoing parenthood have hearts overflowing with love or a sense of service, investing time in voluntary work, active citizenship, supporting families and sustaining strong friendships.