Is it wrong for a married couple to give up their child for adoption?
Question:
Hello,
I hope you are well! If a married couple (who got pregnant after marriage) is willing to give the baby up the baby for adoption because they don’t have the money to keep it, is this a sin?
Answer:
Adoption is not wrong, though it may not always be the best option. Our relationship with God, the Father, is described as an adoption. "He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved" (Ephesians 1:5-6). Thus, there is nothing inherently wrong with adoptions.
I know people who claim that children who are adopted fare worse than children who are raised by their biological parents, even when adopted as newborns. See: "The Paradox of Adoption" by Nicholas Zill. Personally, I'm not certain the explanations fit the data well because the "why" is not examined closely. For example, a significant number of adopted children deal with drug issues because their mothers use drugs or alcohol. Some are put up for adoption because the mother found out the child had a physical handicap. The problems are higher in the adopted child population than in the general population.
If you and your husband are certain that you can't raise a child, then putting the child up for adoption is not wrong. However, try to place your child with a good and loving family. It might not be the best situation, but it may be the best that you can do.
