Care of the handicapped newborn

Abstract

"Every child, however impaired, is a gift of God to his parents. In virtue of his humanity he is equal to them, and should enter their life together as an equal, a new member of a community already constituted by marriage. He is entitled (even if that community is broken or non-existent) to the care, support and guidance he needs as a dependant of that community, and if this natural support fails him, it becomes the task of others to replace it. Even parents who do not explicitly acknowledge the truth that a child is a gift of God can come to see that the very humanity of their child and the fact that he is their child imposes upon them obligations of care for him. Very many children are welcomed as gifts by their parents. Other children are not so welcomed. When a child is born with significant handicaps the parents who recognise that child as a gift from God may nonetheless experience considerable difficulties in securing for him the care he needs. Parents not disposed to welcome a handicapped child as a gift of God may find themselves strongly tempted to deprive the child of the care to which he is entitled in justice."