[Elsie]

As for Joseph divorcing Mary quietly, that doesn't serve as a counter-argument. That doesn't imply anything, except that he's perplexed: is he supposed to be the guardian of her bastard children as well? But he was kind and did not want her exposed to a public shaming. As it was, as soon as the angel provided the explanation about the Divine origin of this Child, he took her into his home as planned, and it was for all the world to assume that the child was Joseph's.

Sorry; but your 'EXPLANATION' needs some 'spalinin' of it's own; since it contracts the assertion YOU made about being a 'guardian'.

[Mrs. Don-o]

So he's supposed to be a guardian for this virgin, and she turns up pregnant? Wouldn't you think this would offend his sense of propriety? Isn't it a tribute to his uprightness that he just says, "She's obviously going her own way. OK, she goes on with her life, and I'll go on with mine. No need to punish her, I'll divorce her quietly."

I could understand and respect that response. It's not til he realizes that the child is from God, that the way forward with Mary seems clear to him again.