When you are talking about a very young child, yes, pregnancy is a punishment. They are not mentally nor are their bodies physically ready to carry a baby.

It's a consequence, but it's also something extreme and dangerous for a child to go through.

I gave birth to my oldest son when I was 18, so I was pregnant for about half of my senior year of high school. Luckily, I wasn't treated as an outcast, but it was still difficult. Not only was I very sick a lot of the time (normal with pregnancy), but I also missed out on a lot of fun senior year experiences (including the class trip to Disney World...that I worked to pay for along with the other students).

When I started college, I was responsible for my son, college, and my full time job. From the age of 18.

I am happy to have my son, and I don't regret having him, but considering how confusing and difficult it was for me, in my late teens, I can't imagine how bad it could be for a girl much younger.

I have NEVER been able to be out on my own and be just responsible for myself. There are experiences I missed and difficulties I had that people my age didn't have to worry with. Again, I wouldn't change it (heh, I might go back and skip college, though...I missed a lot of bonding time with my son in those early years and you just can't get that back), but when you're talking about a 13 year old trying to manage all this...even just the pregnancy aspect...I don't think you can call the pregnancy a blessing (the baby, sure, but not the pregnancy).

JMO.

CINO - Christian in Name Only.

And that was one of the biggest freudian slips yet, and fairly consistent with those that value abortion above life. I am not surprised - by either his statement, or the lack of reaction to it. For it is not that abortion is an option for these people, but has become, like Margaret Sanger wanted, a preferable means to an end. The erradication of all "bad life" (check out Saberhagan and his beserker series for where that comes from).

new term?  Ya, it looks that way doesn't it?  So that would make him a professor, not a possessor? 

well it depends.....I mean if everything is in working order why would they not be physically able?  I can understand what you're saying about the mental capability and maturity especially in today's culture tho. 

I was just reading a story this morning about a girl who was a widow at 18 with two small children.  Of course this was in the 1800's and it was completely normal to be married at 16 and have two kids by 18.  So while I believe the body could perhaps handle pregnancy it's the maturity level I would have a hard time with especially in today's culture.

When my best friend got pregnant at 15 she went thru a very easy delivery of about an hour and a half...and went home in the same jeans she wore before she got pregnant.  I can't say I did that. 

Looking back at her life I wouldn't say her daughter was punishment for her, but maybe the things you mentioned missing out on were for my friend as well.  She had to be home taking care of an infant so she couldn't do the things the other teens were doing at the time. 

Oh my gosh.  I can't even fathom having to do all that so soon after having a child. I don't know how you did this.  It must have been a juggling act for sure.   My girlfriend was maybe actually more futunate in that her parents and I helped her raise her little girl for those two years before graduation.  But she never made college instead going to work fulltime after graduation with a two year old by then. 

Ya, I understand.  I'm not so sure I would want to easily call it a blessing either from my POV But children are a blessing maybe it doesn't always seem so when you're having them or raising them but in retrospect they really are.  But a 13 year old?  Yikes...that's a child having a child and I would hope that while I know this happens I would hope it's rare rather than a normal occurrance.  I've known girls who got pregnant outside of marriage but never met one that was 13 (that I know of anyhow) who did.   I think if I had a girl, I'd be ever so watchful of her today.  Hmmmmm maybe that's why I only had boys? 

 

 

 

 

 

What do you expect from the party of "Safe, legal and rare" equals "later, more obtainable, and without objection" are all specifically mentioned in the constitution. There can only be one logical reason why anyone would be "personally oposed" to abortion. Any politician who says that he or she is personally opposed to abortion, but also favors its current unconstitutional legal protection is certainly a hypocrite. If NOW and other special interest groups have you so cowed that you support abortion rights, just admit that you don't have a problem with abortion, and be done with it. May God have mercy on your soul, BTW.

KFC,

I agree with you. A child is never a "punishment". It is hard for a child to become a mother (or be pregnant), of course. It is also hard on the child father. But it's still a blessing.

Like a lottery win can be a huge problem for a child, pregnancy and birth can be an inconvenience. But they are not punishment.

 

Pregnancy outside of wedlock is a punishment for extramarital relations, but any baby is sacred.

That's nonsense.

A baby is, for a couple married or not, the same blessing or "punishment". Their married status doesn't change what the baby is.

Maybe you are referring to society making it more of a punishment for unmarried couples? But that's society's fault, not G-d's.