Massachusetts Erasing ‘Mother’ and ‘Father’ from Family Law

From the beginning, both mothers and fathers have been integral to creating and raising families. In Genesis, we are told that after God created Adam, He declared that it is “not good for the man to be alone” (Gen. 2:18). So God took one of Adam’s ribs and created “a helper suitable for him.” At the end of the chapter, it reads, “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh” (Gen. 2:24).

At that moment, God showed that the relationship between a man and a woman would be his instrument through which human beings would “be fruitful and multiply.” As Christians, we understand that both mothers and fathers are needed not only to bring a child into the world but also to provide care and play different roles in the upbringing of young Christ-followers.

Unfortunately, some people have been pushing to minimize the important roles of mothers and fathers and falsely suggest that they are not needed to raise families. Case in point: Massachusetts Bill H.4970.

Massachusetts muddles basic language

In August 2024, Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey signed Bill H.4970 into law. Better known as the Parentage Act, the new law requires basic terms, including “mother” and “father,” to be replaced in all parentage laws and birth certificates in the commonwealth.

The law specifies that “mother” be replaced with “person who gave birth to the child” and “father” be changed to “other parent.” It mandates the replacement of the term “paternity” with “parentage,” and it says the term “his” must be changed to “their” regarding fathers.

Even the terms “man” and “woman” are no longer allowed under the radical new law. Instead, they will be replaced by “persons.”

Contrary to Massachusetts Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll’s characterization, this law is far from “commonsense.” It replaces basic and easily definable terms with words that are intentionally vague and unnecessarily complicated. But beyond just being foolish, the law reveals a more concerning effort to attack the created order and challenge the sex binary.

Words have meaning

There is a reason that birth certificates and parentage laws have used the terms “mother” and “father” for centuries. Both figures are necessary for bringing a child into the world, and a child is put in the best position to succeed when both a mother and a father are in the household. Mothers and fathers have different strengths and weaknesses. They bring different perspectives and qualities to the table—and children benefit from that.

In a 2021 journal article, Dr. D. Paul Sullins, an associate professor at The Catholic University of America, detailed research that found children who grow up with both their mother and father in the household have higher average GPAs, better overall physical and emotional health, and a lower likelihood of living in poverty.

Sadly, many people are seeking to obfuscate this truth and suggest that single parents, same-sex couples, and the nuclear family are all interchangeable.

Lt. Gov. Driscoll’s description of the law exemplifies this problem. “By updating these laws,” she said,
“we are putting outdated norms aside and paving the way for a brighter and more equitable future for families of all kinds.”

But God’s design for families is not “outdated.” It doesn’t need to be updated, and it cannot be improved. Children are meant to be raised by both their mothers and fathers.

Certain situations may force a mother or father to raise children alone. But those situations are an unfortunate result of living in a fallen world, not something to strive for.

Mothers and fathers have one of the most important jobs in the world in raising their children, and those children are better off when both parents are involved in their childhood. Eliminating “mother” and “father” from parentage laws and birth certificates won’t change that simple truth.