Research on families not hard to find

It seems obvious that when Mr. Finnegan (Fence Post, Oct. 5) stated that children “always do better in families with both a mother and father,” he is assuming that these parents are neither abusive nor divorced parents using their children as pawns. It seems clear that he is comparing healthy intact families led by heterosexuals to comparable families led by homosexuals.

Apparently, that point escaped Ms. Jedlinski (Oct. 15). She further criticizes Mr. Finnegan's failure to cite research to justify his claim regarding the value of both mothers and fathers. Space limits on opinion pieces do not permit the provision of evidence one would find in academic journals.

Ms. Jedlinski, for example, provides no evidence for her claim that “many problems faced by children of same-sex parents are caused by” the “hatred and bigotry in the Bible.” The irony is not only that she provides no evidence for that claim, but that her claim seems to be driven by both hatred and bigotry.

Even our liberal president made the case for the importance of fathers and mothers in his Father's and Mother's Day proclamations: “Fathers are our first teachers and coaches, mentors and role models. . . . Children and adults alike look up to them and learn. . . . When fathers are not present, their children and families cope with an absence government cannot fill.”

“From our first moments in this world and throughout our lives, our mothers protect us from harm, nurture our spirits and encourage us to reach for our highest aspirations. . . . Mothers share an unbreakable bond with their children, and Americans of all ages and backgrounds owe them an immeasurable debt.”

If Ms. Jedlinski is sincerely interested in research regarding the importance of both mothers and fathers, it's easily available on the Internet.

Laurie Higgins

Deerfield