More Abandoned Children as Europe Austerity Wears On

[Meg]

More Abandoned Children as Europe Austerity Wears On - Business News - CNBC

They're calling them "economic orphans"...

Isaiah 49:15

"Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!

As the euro zone debt crisis deepens and austerity measures take their toll across Europe, the number of young children and babies abandoned across the region has increased, according to local charities.

he rise in the abandonment of infants across Europe is most visible in the spread of “baby hatches” or “boxes” across Europe, where unwanted infants are left anonymously.

The phenomenon was previously more prevalent among immigrants, but it is becoming more widespread among financially desperate members of the local population.

Protopapas cited the example of a four-year old child left at a nursery by her mother with a note that read: “I will not be coming to pick up Anna today because I cannot afford to look after her. Please take good care of her. Sorry."

According to Protopapas, the charity does not have exact figures for economic orphans, but over the next few years he expects “there will be more cases like this.”

“In the past year, SOS Greece has had a 150 percent increase in applications for all kinds of support, mainly [for] financial reasons, and 87 percent of applicants are Greeks,” Protopapas said.

[readyforhome]

That's so sad. I think I have heard of something similar on the news earlier in the year.

[readytogo]

Definitely sad! It's always the children who lose...

[readyforhome]

Definitely sad! It's always the children who lose...

That is always the sad, sad truth. I THINK I may have heard of some people doing some similar things here in the US. Like bringing a child into the ER and leaving them, because they were unable to financially take care of them. I KNOW people often leave there children in Wal-Mart as free daycare, but that is another story.

[FaithInChrist]

I wish I could go get them all and bring them home. My heart breaks for these young ones.

[livin_in_the_Son]

My heart breaks for the little ones, but I can't help but feel a little bit relieved that the parents didn't end their lives as an option, but sought shelter for them.

[Coup]

This is just another example of the evils of perpetual debt.

At some point a Jubilee (forgiveness of debt & the release of captives) will have to be declared.

Iceland has set the modern precedent of this ancient Godly principle.

It's the only reasonable solution.

[survivor3x]

It boggles my mind when I think of all the "unwanted" children. It seems as if the people who don't want children have them, and those who do want children--sometimes desperately--have none.

[anath]

Lord we know you love them will protect and care for each one of these abandoned children.

[GlennO]

coup said:

This is just another example of the evils of perpetual debt.

At some point a Jubilee (forgiveness of debt & the release of captives) will have to be declared.

Iceland has set the modern precedent of this ancient Godly principle.

It's the only reasonable solution.

Coup, we do not circulate "urban legends" on this forum

[Coup]

coup said:


Coup, we do not circulate "urban legends" on this forum

Glenn I'm not trying to perpetuate a myth, but only the mosaic concept of debt forgiveness(jubilee) is good, especially in times of crisis.

I'm linking this article from the Telegraph which is mainstream.
IMF urges authorities to consider debt forgiveness to restore growth - Telegraph

"In Iceland, banks were made to accept reductions in mortgage interest payments of up to 40pc and the most distressed households had a portion of their outstanding debt written off."

As the article shows even the International Monetary Fund advocates the concept, even if just on a limited & controlled basis.

I personally would advocate the concept on a much larger scale when dealing with Greece's debt crisis. Instead of the European nations loaning them more, I would prefer to see those nations to write off Greece's debt ending the "need" for austerity which is stifling the people & leading to the suffering & abandonment of children in the original article.

And no I'm not advocating a return to the Laws of Moses, but the application of the Godly principle contained in Mosaic law. I see wisdom in what God teaches. Even here in the States after the War for Independence our Christian forefathers put an end to the English practice of debtors prisons by implementing financial reforms that allow a person to seek debt forgiveness. A practice we now know as bankruptcy.

Sometimes all that is needed is just the forgiveness of the usury(interest) to allow one to eventually pay the principle so they can work themselves out of the bondage of a simple mathematical paradox. A paradox that is clearly illustrated by the mathematical concept - exponent. All one has to do is look at the exponential curve to realize at a given point in time debt becomes unsustainable due to compounding. A simple math problem that shows God's infinite wisdom and his desire for us to live in His Grace & not in the bondage of financial instruments created by man.