[Mrs. Don-o]

I had an acquaintance, a single woman who got inseminated at a clinic because she wanted a baby but didn't want to be married to a man. My own inclination was to let that pass by without comment because nobody appointed me to be a general moral supervisor of other people's lives. But when this friend, Rachel, asked me what I thought, I did tell her frankly that some babies are fatherless by chance, but no baby should be fatherless by choice.

She wasn't offended by my opinion. In fact, she had solicited it. And yes, we're still friends.

I think the situation with Mary Cheney is different in this respect: she is apparently a willing cause celebre.

[oceanview]

well, the flip side is this - I know a couple of single women who also never married (for various reasons) - they had abortions. they are now past the child bearing years, and all alone. they would have been better off either having those babies, or when they realized their body clock was timing out - having a baby out of wedlock.

not everyone can achieve the perfect life with a spouse and 2.2 children and a house in the suburbs. for many women, having a child in this manner isn't a bad thing.