On Wednesday the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice heard from groups interested in Alan Shatter’s ‘Brave New World’ family law reform. With the exception of Family and Life every group broadly supports his extremely radical and far-reaching law.

Also on Wednesday I came across this blog by Mollie Hemingway at the Federalist. She puts some very relevant questions to those who favour redefining marriage, and therefore parenthood as well.

“Does it [marriage redefinition] in any way affect the right of children to be raised by their own mother and father? Have we forgotten why that’s an important norm? Either way, does it change the likelihood that children will be raised by their own mother and father? Does it by definition make that an impossibility for whatever children are raised by same-sex couples? Do we no longer believe that children should be raised by their own mother and father? Did we forget to think about children in this debate, pretending that it’s only about adults? In any case, is this something that doesn’t matter if males and females are interchangeable? Is it really true that there are no significant differences between mothers and fathers? Really? Are we sure we need to accept that lie? Are we sure we want to?”

How, in effect, did most of the groups appearing before the Justice Committee answer those questions? Let’s see.

Does it [Shatter’s Bill] in any way affect the right of children to be raised by their own mother and father?

It does, and we don’t care.

Have we forgotten why that’s an important norm?

We don’t think it should be a norm at all.

Either way, does it change the likelihood that children will be raised by their own mother and father?

Yes, and we don’t care.

Does it by definition make that an impossibility for whatever children are raised by same-sex couples?

Of course, and again we don’t care.

Do we no longer believe that children should be raised by their own mother and father?

No, we don’t.

Did we forget to think about children in this debate, pretending that it’s only about adults?

We’re all for the rights of the child but those rights are in no way violated by deliberately depriving them of either their own mother or their own father.

In any case, is this something that doesn’t matter if males and females are interchangeable?

We believe the sexes are interchangeable and that ‘gender’ is a social context.

Is it really true that there are no significant differences between mothers and fathers?

There are no significant differences.

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Marriage is the most pro-child of all social institutions. By all means let’s help the family in its many forms. But those interested in the welfare of children should want as many children as possible to be raised by their own married mothers and fathers. Irish children’s rights groups should not be so oblivious to this fact.