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Ishmael’s Bane: The Sin and Crime of Illegitimacy Reconsidered
- Author(s):
- John Witte, Jr. (see profile)
- Date:
- 2003
- Subject(s):
- Canon law
- Item Type:
- Article
- Tag(s):
- Adoption, equal protection, Law and religion, Bastard(y), Illegitimacy, History of common law
- Permanent URL:
- http://dx.doi.org/10.17613/q0bf-sh23
- Abstract:
- This essay offers a critical rereading of the Western theological and legal doctrine of illegitimacy or bastardy. The text first traces the Western stigma against bastards to the Bible, particularly to the story of Ishmael, the illegitimate son of Abraham and Hagar. It then shows the systematic discrimination against bastards in classic canon law and in early modern Anglo-American common law, and the slow amelioration of their plight in legal reforms in the United States in the past century. The author concludes that the Western doctrine of illegitimacy is theologically illegitimate and suggests a few historically-informed legal remedies, notably adoption, that would help mitigate the plight of illegitimates today.
- Metadata:
- xml
- Published as:
- Journal article
- Status:
- Published
- Last Updated:
- 4 years ago
- License:
- All Rights Reserved
- Share this:
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95ishamaelsbane2003.pdf