Paternity
There is the old quote that "Maternity is a matter of fact, paternity is a matter of opinion." This of course is an older way of thinking because today we have the power of molecular biology to prove a persons genetic identity. This has changed the way that our system has dealt with questions of Paternity and legal responsibility, or has it... Take this very interesting story:

A 35-year-old Maine man is being sued for child support even though a DNA test has proved the child isn’t his. Geoffrey Fisher, 35, stopped paying support in 2002, when tests showed a girl born to an old girlfriend was not his. But the state says proper paperwork wasn’t filed and it is suing him for $11,450 under its “deadbeat dad” statute. “It’s crazy,” said Fisher. “A man doesn’t have much power in a situation like this.” Thanks Phil.

This case illustrates in some way the serious issues involved in Paternity suits and maybe even the broader issue of financial responsibility.

I'm reminded of a case that happened while I was in Salt Lake City. A woman had become separated from her boyfriend early in her accidental pregnancy and opted to carry the child to term and put it up for adoption. The father was not allowed to have the child. He went to court to prevent his own offspring from going to strangers.

I definitely feel that it is important to provide protection for women in these issues. Certainly levels of education and property ownership aren't remotely close to equitable and we need to take account for that. I do think, however, that as a society we should be able to come up with a solution to the fact that paternity is no longer a choice for some. Accidents happen, especially in this society where sex education is lacking. One moment shouldn't change a persons life. A father should have some say over what happens to his childs life and his life. This of course really is an issue for a small part of these types of cases that don't occur in marriages or unions of some sort but in my opinion it is a problem.