Maybe I’m way off base, but I am not convinced destroying the marrital relationship is the best thing here.
These two met innocently, developed a relationship and got married.
Is it certain that offspring would be jeopardized, or is it simply more likely that they would be?
At this point the psychological problems for these two are going to be massive no matter what. What a terrible situation.
These two met innocently, developed a relationship and got married.
I'm thinking the same things.
These people must feel terrible.
It's only more likely. When the gametes dance, nothing is certain.
They could have had themselves sterilized and adopt, or they could have had genetice counciling. If their family had no history of genetic problems, then they'd probably be OK. Assuming that their birth parents were both known and such a history was available.
After all when people with achondroplasia (most common form of dwarfism) marry, they have a about a 25% chance of having a baby who would very likely not even survive to be born, or would die at birth, yet such "little people" marry each other, and have children, all the time.
I agree on all counts, and am saddened by the situation, all around.
I do not find, in the article, any mention of offspring from this marriage. For all we know, the couple might have not wanted kids -- one or the other might volunteer to be sterilized, in which case, really, what's the harm in staying married if they wanted to?
On the positive side, perhaps they can just rub the court's nose in it and remain the very best of friends.
I suppose, realistically, it's the Setting of Precedent that gets the court all upset. *sigh*