Topic:  Can I adopt children?

Source of this posting: Moderator response

Date originally posted: June 16, 2005

Moderator who originally posted this source: Kathy Martyn

Question: Hi!I looked for this question in the FAQs but, I couldn't find it there, so hopefully you can either direct me to the answer or answer it for me :)Is it acceptable for a Catholic woman, when married, although fully capable of having children, to adopt children instead?Or would this be a form of avoiding children, which I read in another answer was wrong?And also, I want you to know that this site really helped me throughout the last 8 months (my first year in university).. Thanks for all the help!

Answer: 

Hi and thank you for your question! I hope you are fully enjoying all the wonderful opportunities university life provides. It is a very special time and one you will never duplicate.

Adoption is always an option for a couple. The Catholic Church is in favor of adoption. However, you use the word "instead." Do you mean instead of having children of your own? Do you mean is it ok to use contraception if you are willing to adopt? The answer to that question is no. In 1968, Pope Paul VI issued his landmark encyclical letter Humanae Vitae (Latin, "Human Life"), which reemphasized the Church’s constant teaching that it is always intrinsically wrong to use contraception to prevent new human beings from coming into existence.

Enjoy your summer!