Amazing! Something new, not the usual love story.

New but not medically safe. Are they aware of the possible genetic problems for their four children?

Amazing??? More like sickening! Incest is WRONG!

I have several questions about this. One is have they done a DNA test. It'd be so interesting if they weren't even related. I do feel strongly that their children should be raised by them especially since they are the biological parents. I also recall in a Genetic's class regarding new methods that scientist can use to determine the likelihood of defects. It's called Genetic mapping. Also, with ultrascans etc. However, they should do this before hand. Very interesting story. Personally my brothers disgust me and besides I am a lesbian. So I relate in how their relationship is viewed as not being accepted in the eyes of others. Also, I think if I were in their perdicament I would go to trial try to come to a compromise/agreement, get back my kids and move to a more liberal country were no one knew about us being related.

What good does it serve to send this man to jail or take away the couple's children? The children already exist, so let them grow up with their family. Obviously, this is a sad, complex story.

Yes, the biggest worry in having children is the potential for passing along recessive genetic traits. The government should leave them alone. At this point, it's none of the government's business.

"didn't even know of each other's existence until Patrick was over 20 years old and Susan was in her teens."
Does this mean they did not know they were siblings when they fell in love?
If so, you can hardly call them guilty.
If they did, it is short-sighted and egoistic from them not to think about the genetic burden they are saddling their children with.

Love between brother and sister is only natural. However, it will be taken to such heights is not normal.
There must be a good reason why our forefathers discouraged it.
Besides, are we trying to compete with the animals? They do this kind of thing. Sorry for comparison but this is a fact.

When I was in my teens, I had sex with my very own brother. It haunted me until now. But i didnt fell in love with him. One time when I had a fight with him, our little secret was divulged and the whole family knew it. Its not easy being judged put to fire because of this. Aggravating the situation, I am a gay. As Ive talked with my other gay friends, some do have the same experience but are just so silent about it. Believe me, its not easy. I cant judge the couple, nor one of us. Sometimes things are not planned, and it just goes the way it is

It would be incest if one was molesting the other but this crazy world is a sad place . 2 people that genuinely cares for one another would not be left alone. Anyone thought of how Abel or Cain continued had babies. Yet we openly support some gay folks and would not even say anything about that so we can be politically correct. I agree with he defect thing but the main reason behind this is more bcos of what we think is socially right and wrong. Shame on us all!

If our banks are willing to give credit to illegal aliens then I feel the government should leave people's personal preferences alone. Others take risks with drugs, etc. while pregnant and have defects with their children. This certainly would not be the first brother and sister relationship - just isn't usually in the media. I wish their little happy family all the luck. The kids need their Dad. We don't need to fill our jails unnecessarily.

Love is love, and sometimes comes from the most unusual places - if these kids had defects, I think this would be in the story, so hopefully they do not - I agree with the commenter that said incest is wrong - and incest is one family member forcing themselves on another - this is just two people in love, and add family love to true love, and I bet they have a love we would all fight to have, and dream of having - let them be, good for them fighting this archaic view of love - if gay love is ok, and it is - so is family love (Not incest)

there doesnt seem to be any crime committed and i feel that the jail is reserved for those who committed a crime.

in this case if the crime is to love, even your own family members, as what the mormons do then the law ought to take into considerations the intricacies and details of the case and a verdict should not be derived dogmatically.

the universal law is to love and punishment should only be reserved for those who dont know how to "love", even themselves or their own bodies, and this is called inhuman!

I understand it if incest is illegal, for the reason mentioned in the article, that states that there's an increased risk for birth defects. However, this law should have exceptions to my opinion, and not knowing you are siblings for such a long time should be one of them.
This law should exist to prevent many siblings from having children, thus degenerating human genes, but I don't see why exceptions wouldn't be possible. I also think this should be restricted to 'having children' only.

Gord, Canada wrote: "if these kids had defects, I think this would be in the story, so hopefully they do not"

Two of the children are "severely disabled" according to the news here in Germany, but the nature and cause of the disabilities has not been specified.
I feel the danger to offspring is the only reason to forbid such relationships. If I'm not mistaken in several states in the USA it is legal for cousins to marry, but only if one of them undergoes sterilization. I don't really see why this should be different.

let this 2 peaple live their life and look for more serius matter in the country thank you

There was a study published in summer 2002 in which scientist (a university, I believe) determined that the odds of genetic defect in children from first cousins was not that significantly greater than from couples from separate geneology. I believe the study was confined to first cousins and cannot remember if it extrapolated or studied siblings. Maybe you could forward this to the couple for help in their court case.

There is too much wrong in this world for people to focus on a brother-sister couple who appear to be raising a happy, loving family and home. I feel one generation of offspring from a sibling couple is not an issue. The issue would only be if sibling coupling continued for more than one generation within the same familly. Is there science to support this? Doubt it other than theoretical studies. The FDA would never release a drug for consumer use based on theory alone so it is wrong to place a ban on incest unless it is proven to be a problem in humans. Given the general aversion to incest I doubt anyone has done more then theoretical proofs on the genetic complications that MAY arise is incestuous couples bear children. Current medical ethics would prevent actual lab work on humans.

If science were to prove that incest is bad then I would be okay. My judgment is that the ban on incest has been a component of religious dogma for so long that it has built up a unpenetrable defense against any argument or evidence proposing that it is not as abhorant medically as we've been led to believe.

I would never condone it in my family but to each his own. The world is too secular for Judeo-Christian theory to be the foundation for governing how people want to live their lives, fall in love, and raise families. I'm a firm Catholic believer but enough is enough with religious dogmatism and shadow theocratic governing.

Harry Potter is not bad for children. Who cares if minister Haggard is a closet gay? Who cares if two siblings fall in love and want to raise a family. If people are happy that's all that matters. Why add to the world's misery (famine, floods, Mgabe, Iraq, Shia-Sunni death squads, unilateral cowbay war-mongerging) when it comes at the expense of one - ONE!! - family's happiness if there is no indication of abuse, poor parenting, or any other condition detrimental to the children's welfare.

I'm curious to see the response to my argument. My argumentative writing skill is not the greatest but I just had to say something.

An example of undisciplined, unchecked natural desires. This is wrong, not just because it may bring disabled children into the world, it's wrong because ultimately God says it is. Isn't that the reason we categorize some things as right and others as wrong. There is always an ultimate authority. For secular folks it is themselves and for others it is God.

What I think is important to know about the story and what is not covered in the report is that two of their four children are really handicapped. So what I am wondering about is why they got four children being fully aware of the risk. It's a great thing if they love each other and that's not what makes me think. But it seems that they denied the risk of their children being born with a handicap otherwise they would have taken precautions. And that's what I just can't understand.

Why was Patrick imprisoned and not Susan? Did she not commit the same "crime"? It's really bothersome how governments and judicial systems are openly discriminatory against men/fathers. I don't believe either of them should go to jail but for Patrick to face a second jail sentence over this and Susan no jail time is more abhorant to me than what he is being jailed for. I'd wager that she was not jailed because she is the mother. Why can't justice be sexually blind and view here as equally responsible and EQUALLY susceptible for jail time? It's distressing to know that I will be legally and judicially behind the 10-megaton 8-ball regarding my rights as a father when I start raising a family.

I like this story because it shows two sides of human nature very clearly. One side being our natural tendency toward love, and the other being the human tendency of pushing our opinions as if they are fact. In this case, the opinion that incest is wrong.
To say incest is wrong is to say an action born of love is wrong. My opinion is that it is not wrong. I wish them well.

How can this be? Even Mother Nature is uncompromisingly trying to tell Patrick that this is wrong but still he does not want to listen.If incestuous marrages are deemed constitutional the offspring of these relationships will end up being the responsibillity of generations to come."How can that responsibility be constitutional?"

So what's their story? How did the relationship come about?

Does God 's law mean anything to u. leviticus ch 20. Who fears u the most,God or mankind? God 's word says thou shall not.

I'm speechless.

This is a case where the society, albeit being biologically right about stopping people passing recessive genetic traits to future generations, should really leave these people alone.

If biology were the only valid argument in this, similarly people with any other genetic hereditary disorder, like Cystic fibrosis, Down syndrome etc. should be jailed for bearing children.

The story does not unambiguously reveal, whether they knew about their common ancestry or not, when they started their family. If they did, they indeed are irresponsible towards their own children, and further generations of their family. In my opinion, no-one should knowingly bear to term a child, who is known to suffer from genetic disease for the rest of his/her life. It is just not fair to the child.

That aside, here the cultural/religious aspect has been allowed to become the sole ruling factor in what should be a purely secular, legal matter.

After all, what some people refer to as "God" should have nothing to do with the law. Unfounded beliefs should not define legal "right" or "wrong".

Who am I judge what's normal?

That's the problem with the world today, people need to mind their own business and tend to what they need to before telling others how they need to live.

Incest prohibition is a basic moral absolute that, despite changing societal norms, cannot be dissolved. Incest is harmful on a social,moral,physical and spiritual level.

There are no laws that I'm aware of that prohibit ANY couple from reproducing based on genetic information.
We've shown multiple genetic links to birth defects and even when clearly shown to be recessive in BOTH parents, the law does not step in and say, "you cannot reproduce". Whether they should or not is a different discussion but to take this couple's children is simply wrong.

Sorry, this is not right, period! Why does it matter if they met just a few years ago? where does it stop? If a mother gives her child up for adoption does it make it okay to have a sexual relationship after meeting just because they were not together their whole lives? I don't feel pity for them. In addition, needing something like genetic mapping should tell them something.

such a ashamefull story, I think there should be a different between humans and animals. i dont think it is a love.

We as humans should not allow this. Just like the gentleman from Dubai said "are we trying to compete with animals?" If we allow this, then we are de-evolving to just that. There is a reason that incest is a crime, and has been since the beginning of civilization.

The couple have four children. If those children survive to breeding age, then the pairing can be considered an evolutionary success story. Underneath all the emotional/morality arguments attached to this issue, Life itself is smiling because it has continued for another generation. Nothing else matters.

This is wrong on all levels..morally, physically, pychologically etc... Some people mistake sickness for 'love'. I highly doubt someone in their teens who just lost their mother can make a rational decision about 'love'. They shouldnt be put in jail but be made to undergo therapy to find out what got them into this mess in the first place.

Give the jail cell to a real criminal and let those kids grow up with their real daddy who loves them - they've obviously been persecuted enough.

Make love not laws! The sexual and love relationships between adults must be a non-state matter. The german law goes against the individual freedom and should be changed. Best regards to patrick and Susan.

There was a recent story on a study that determined that the aversion to sibling incest that we have is triggered by watching your mother care for another child; I guess, that is how the primal brain determines who your brothers and sisters are. In this case, that aversion was never developed since they did not meet until adulthood. So as strange as it sounds, these feelings of love could have happened to anyone in the same situation.

They must know the medical consequences for their children ,but they are a normal couple, no matter if they are from the same family. Nowadays people get married and divorce for stupid resons, so let them live their love.

Possible birth defects and genetic problems aside, the government has no right or respobsibility to determine who someone can love or marry. As long as they are responsible for every they make, no one has a right to judge them for loving each other.

First off all you religious bigots, check out your old testament. God saw fit in the early stages to allow brother and sister marriage, almost prefered it. Did your god just all of a sudden realize it's bad genetics? You mean she/he didn't know this in the beginning? Why do so many people who should mind thier own business find it so easy to judge others. This I'll never know....

I find it heart-wrenching when he says "we never want to be without each other again" because it is simply misplaced feelings. These were 2 children who share a common bond, yet never grew up together. I see mom dying, family reuniting and that void being filled and the feelings they have being (within themselves) misunderstood. These people need intesive therapy; the saddest part is that they've brought children into this which is extremely unfair.

Why is it that the World's Elite are allowed to interbreed all over the place, and yet it's illegal for everyone else? No one questions them about it, suggests that it is sick for them to do it. Oh, maybe people are just don't know about it because they walk around ignorant of what is happening around them. Wake up people.

It is just sad and pathetic. People are pushing liberalism, individualism and personal freedoms to the limit. Let's put the secular/religous considerations aside. Every society has its moral codes that citizens must respect. And it is immoral for humans to have sex with their sibling, let alone have kids. Period. If that decadence goes unchecked, fathers and mothers will soon give birth to their sexual partners. This couple has just taken the easy way out. they stay in the same house, they don't need to invest resources or time... European societies are falling on their head. Nothing seems to matter and everything is allowed as long as you want to do it. what about pedophile and rapists? Some day down the line, it is sure poeple will be parading judicial courts to defend their RIGHT to sex with babies or with whoever they feel attracted to. it is just a shame!!

Life is so complicated when a few people with no clues dictate to people that just want to live happily. This is about 2 human beings falling in love and having children. We as humans want to judge other people. There is only one power capable of judgment. Everything happens in this world exactly as it is suppose to. Everything in this world happens exactly when it is suppose to happen. Before you cast judgment on other people make sure your own life doesn't have any problems. In other words, everyone should mind their own business.

In the wild, it's the strongest male that gets to breed, regardless of sibling status. So be happy that we aren't like animals, because most people probably wouldn't be here otherwise.

Of course they love each other their family, we naturally have a common bond with family members. Unfortunatly these two people were not raised in a traditional family setting allowing them to realize they loved each other as a sibling.
It would be interesting to know more about there childhood since they were raised separate and presumably not aware of each other until adulthood. It may not be unreasonable to assume that they were raised lacking some othere stabilities in their childhood and are finding a common bond that they feel only their sibling can truly understand.
I don't condone incest, but since this is the road they have already traveled down and children are involved they should be allowed to raise there children and not be condemned and belittled in front of their children.
Please Patrick and Susan do not have any more children, it is not in the best interest of your childrens health and can cause life long physical challenges. As parents we should do our best to create an environment that will lead to a healthy, happy life, much of your childs future depends on your actions. Keep the children you have safe and happy and don't have any more babies at risk.

"First off all you religious bigots, check out your old testament. God saw fit in the early stages to allow brother and sister marriage, almost prefered it. Did your god just all of a sudden realize it's bad genetics? You mean she/he didn't know this in the beginning? Why do so many people who should mind thier own business find it so easy to judge others. This I'll never know....
Posted By norma, san antonio, tx : 9:37 AM ET"

norma, you just showed that you are just a "non-religious bigot". you just judged people of faith... what a hypocrite

This supports evolutionary psychology...they didn't grow up together and thus were lacking the normal mechanism that causes siblings to feel disgust at the thought of sleeping together. Having met in their 20s and late teens and deciding to live togehter it's not surprising that heavier feelings developed.

I work in the genetics field and often deal with couples faced with the difficult decision of repeating pregnancies after having a child with a devastating recessive disease. These future pregnancies face a 25% chance of being effected, but it is not illegal for them to try. Often doctors can screen for the disease early in a pregnancy, though not always, leaving the couple with the decision to continue or abort, not great options obviously. These individuals are not locked up or sterilized. I don't think that incest is right, but don't feel that the couple in the interview is evil either...I wouldn't want to be them!

I can see both sides of the story. They never knew each other growing up, and I think that makes it difficult for them to think of each other as brother and sister. This just isn't a normal situation.
Frankly, I do agree that it is a poor decision to have children together. If one agreed to be sterilized, that would be fine. I think they should adopt children, however, rather than parent children that may have trouble later on in life. So many children need a good home full of love and happiness.
My opinion, long story short: Stop putting him in jail, what's done is done. Leave him be, give his children back and force one of them to be sterilized. Any more children should be adopted.

Anna Nicole Smith doesn't look so crazy now...does she?

I can't believe what i am reading. Brother and sister in love and have not one but four children!!! I almost vomitted my egg sandwich this morning. It is wrong on all level, no matter how you spin this. Two of their children are handicapped. You know now that they are wards of the government, because statistically that mother or father can't go to work. Those children will need care 24/7. So who ends up supporting them, the government and the tax payers. This is a very sad situation for everyone involved.

Just for a moment, imagine a couple that asked for Genetic Counseling and were advised they had very high odds of having defective children. But… “Love is in the air” and they marry anyway. Should he or she or both be held for a crime?
Who should write Human Laws? Human beings or God (What ever it is)? For those who believe in its existence, God is Love. So… (another song) “Let it be”

I'm sure there is more to this story than published here...maybe we'll never know....but, in any case, does that mean my father is also my uncle and my mom is my aunt? hmmm....if they wish to be together/married, then they should be sterilized so they cannot have children of their own, due to genetic issues, but they should be able to adopt....and stop bringing God into everything....that's their problem, not yours...i always hated people preaching at me....whatever i do is between me and God, not you, so mind your business

According to the Bible and creationism, Adam and Eve were the first humans. How do you think the rest of us got here? Cain and Abel and their sisters begat children and so forth. God does not say it is wrong, human courts do. I hate when religious fanatics are hypocritical.

this type of situation is somewhat common in siblings who do not meet until they are adults. i feel for them. this must have been a very difficult choice for them, but no one can help whom they love.

i think it is fine if they want to be together, but children are something that should not be produced from this union. adopt or don't have any.

as long as they can provide a healthy life for their children and themselves,i think they have good intentions in life

In general, I believe that a romantic relationship between siblings should be strongly discouraged. As with women who enter into polygamous marriages at a young age, there is the possiblity of coercion into thinking this was a choice; a sort of Stockholm Syndrome.

However, this couple met as adults and it is in no one's interest to remove a loving father from the family.

Your all stupid if you think that this does not happen in your nieghborhood. How many brother/sister families are really out there? Sit on that one...

I don't think that's a good idea. Thinks about their children saying: Is this my mother or my aunt ?

Humanity's gene pool is weak enough from all our chemicals without incest being thrown into it. It is wrong, and is bad for the human race.

My feelings are that an adult has the right to love whoever they want, and if that is their sibling so be it. I personally don't *agree* with it but it is not my choice to make.

However, them having children is something I don't agree with. They had to have known the risks but chose to ignore them. When it affects someone else's life, like it will these kids, is when I have a problem with it.

Although every adult individual has a right to sexual freedom but having incestuous relationships is an abuse of that freedom. Such relationship should not legalised.

The idea of birth defects being the reason that this is not allowed is, I feel, a useless and point. We (humans) are all 99.98% genetically identical, so to some sense we are all commiting incest. Also, what would be the issue where two sisters(or brothers for that matter) wanted to get married? There would be not children to create birth defects. There is a slippery slope here, however. I think that incestuous relationships are outlawed because of the opportunity for abuse. Sex is a powerful thing and if these realationships are allowed then there exists who knows where it could lead. Are we to limit this to only bothers and sisters or are we to allow mothers and sons and fathers and daughters (or mothers and daughters, etc) to marry. It is easier to outlaw it altogether and keep the issue black and white rather than adding shades of gray.

This is another example of the moral relativism plaguing the west. Everything is okay as long you don't hurt anyone. Moral standards should have no legal weight. Let everybody run naked in the streets. Who are they hurting, right? Oh wait, they are hurting someone, big time. Why should someone's right to "sexual freedom" be paramount to someone's right to be born healthy?

This is just one case that happened to come to light. There are others. Now for the next scenario:sperm banks. The same man can and does sell his sperm to banks multiple times as he moves about in his career. On the basis of his bio, his sperm is selected by various women. They have his children who grow up and unknowingly fall in love and marry their half brothers and sisters. Is this incest? What are the genetic implications for the offspring? Do we then mandate that all couples intending to marry first undergo DNA tests to ensure they're not related? What about step-brothers and sisters who lose touch because parents divorce and go different ways and the children subsequently marry? Would the marriages be incest? How about uncles and nieces? Or aunts and nephews? Fathers and long abandoned daughters? There are many situations beside this one case.

The most important part of the story is that the two siblings were not raised together. Studies show that it is being raised together is what creates the incest taboo. So these two people did not learn that built in taboo.
They should not be punished for what is not their fault. However, they should be discouraged from having further children as inbreeding creates disabilities.

He should be quiet and go to prison again! Freedom does not deny self-control. He should respect the laws of the republic. If society finds his love disgusting, why isn't he prepard to change?

Judeo-Christian morals have nothing to do with this story. There is a reason for these laws beyond religion. Keyword Genetic Diversity. Any one who has been around puppy-mill dogs or involved with livestock know this.The people who will bear the burden and expense will by the offspring with disabilities and reduced quality of life and the resourses of the population to help support the choices of their irresponsible parents. Secular or Religious natural laws apply evenly and do not make exceptions.

For all those screaming about what was in the beginning-God allowing sexual relations between siblings, it was later forbidden. Go read the law to Isreal in the scriptures. And by extension, Christans and most other religions adhere to the command. This is the reason laws such as this have been passed. "In God We Trust."

I thought Middles ages ended circa 1700 . was I wrong? Will they burn them too? SHAME!

This is Wrong, Wrong!!

I don't support this issue and I find it repugnent. You can say that this is a religious and/or ethical issue, but it comes down to Biology, gang. Anyone read about the history of the European aristocracy? Think about the "madness" that afflicted royals as the result of in-breeding. Family married within their ranks in order to keep the money within the royal family but look at the results. (King George, anybody?)

I support people's privacy however, so I say let them stay together. And while we're at it, let THEM and not the city, region or country be financially responsible for caring for their disabled children. If we follow the argument that this is a personal decision, then the city/govt./country shouldn't get involved nor provide financial support to the poor kids born with either physical or mental disabilities. If this is their choice, then they need to handle the consequences and be responsible for these kids.

I don't understand what goes through some people's heads.

The notion that "incest" only applies to situations where one or more of the participants is unwilling is erroneous. Forced sexual acts are rape and molestation. Incest is sexual behavior between individuals who are genetically closely related. Period.

It sounds to me that the couple found each other as siblings, and knew they were siblings when they fell in love. There is just something wrong with a person who knowingly engages in sexual behavior with a brother or sister. This taboo predates written law, and there are good reasons for it.

Life gets stranger by the day..Still, who are we to judge if there love for each other is right or wrong??...If it is genuine..let them be!

However, knowing the risks they were taking, one wonders why genetic testing was not pursued. The stress of raising one severely handicapped kid is an ongoing life stress situation on any kind of a family unit, let alone raising two severely handicapped, as seems to be in this case..

Be interesting to see if there love for each other indeed survive there adversity....Love, puzzling and mysterious...

I think this is sick, disgusting and totally wrong on so many levels, for all the reasons others who've voiced their objections to this have already stated. Nobody will EVER be able to convince me that the fact that these two are "consenting adults" and therefore we need to mind our own business or we shouldn't judge can justify an arrangement like this. This is now brought out in the public and that MADE it everyone's business and put it out there for everyone's judgment. I only see such excuses as proof modern society has truly flushed itself down the toilet.

1 - Where's the father of these two??
2 - Why did only Patrick serve jail time? Didn't they both commit a "crime"?
3 - Leave them alone and give them back their children...there are too many other, more serious things on the worlds plate than this. The children need to be with their parents, PERIOD.

The genetic argument is invalid because we do not arrest or sterilize individuals who carry recessive disease traits and still marry/breed.

The societal protection argument is invalid because of the above statment.

The religious standpoint is invalid because it presumes to enforce religious beliefs on others who do not share those beliefs.

The societal argument doesn't stand up because we do not imprison individuals who drink/use drugs/or otherwise endanger their pregnancies.

Again, the societal protection argument is also invalid because of the above statment.

If they had not had children, would he be in court? Would this be newsworthy if they had not had children?

Oh gosh! what's this world coming to? Incestutous love has and will always be against human nature, morals, and the foundations of human beings. I have just one question to the couple: let's suppose that there is no wrong with what you are doing, how will you convince your children when grown ups of your deed.

Incest is not a natural God given instinct for Human Beings!!!! It is a man's / woman's willed learned behavior. It can be UNLEARNED. The bibles teaches SELF DISICPLINE but only if the person makes that decision to NOT feed into that temptation. This behavior is about spiritual bankrupcy

So, let them love eachother if they want to! But when it comes to purposely putting a child in harms way? That's not ok with me. The probability of severe disability when having children, for this type of relationship, is too great of a number to ignore and I believe that's why laws of this nature are in place.

When the only criteria for marriage is that there are two consenting adults and that they "love" each other, then legally incest cannot be challenged.

And of course, who is anyone to say that marriage has to be between "two" people? Gay marriage proponents are attempting to dispose of a marriage definition that has been built up, spread across the globe, and sustained for thousands of years. If sexual moral codes are truly relative, and not rooted in the Judeo-Christian mores, then no one can say what is right but the current whims of the dominant culture....and cultures change. Next polygamy? Of course.

Like many others commenting on this unique story, my gut instinct is to encourage such relationships to be made illegal on the basis of the possible genetic defects their children will incur, rather than simply because "incest is repulsive" as some maintain.

However, there are many couples comprised of non-related individuals whose combinations of genes also produce genetically defected children. If we are to suggest that it should be illegal for related individuals to mate because of potential defects, we would then have to require genetic testing for everyone who wishes to have children in order to completely rule out the possibility of birth defects. Would we then prosecute those people who failed to test their genetic makeups against those of their partners and, in turn, produced children with birth defects?

All of this is very frightening, as it implies two things. One, that children with birth defects aren't worth as much to society as those who are born healthy (i.e. their presence is a harm to society, which, as the German lawyer said, is the only way that one can be prosecuted for their actions--if they are harming society). Secondly, we are presenting a scenario where we actively seek by unnatural means to control our population--through testing which allows us to selectively perpetuate certain characteristics within our species.

So, while the mere fact that brother and sister can care for one another as blood relatives and soul mates is dumbfounding to many, we can't merely call to illegalize such actions without looking at the legal precedents which would be set for the rest of society.

It is tragic that these children must live with disabilities; however, they are no less valuable and, nonetheless, they are allowed the opportunity to live and be loved by caring parents. Certainly, they are not alone among children whose parents' genes were mismatched--regardless of whether or not the parents are related.

I think its odd that noone in the entire thread has yet asked "why is only patrick in jail?"

Nice story. Looking through the comments I am ashamed how closed minded some people are. People should read Mitchers' Hawaii or some Heinlein (Lazarus Long)

I'm wondering if they've ever seeked counseling. Pehaps their feelings of love are due to their being separated for so long and then the stress of losing their mother. Perhaps it has to do more with separation anxiety. Jail is not the place for this person. Perhaps they could make assure that they don't have any additional children, as I believe that birth defects are the main reason why incest is banned. Look at the issues the Amish are having, by marrying within their own circle. A large number of their children are born with birth defects due to a limited gene pool. Love is one thing, but you have to think of your children and their future and the future of other generations to come from your line.

Not passing judgement but I think that once they found out they were siblings they should have cut that part of their relationship. I do not agree with it after they found out they were siblings and you can control who you fall in love with. I have a sister and ther is no way on God's green earth that I would think of my sister that way. But I love her...like a sister!

This is another example of the moronic decisions ignorant people make daily. Throw both of them in jail.

I'm just thankful that I'm not in that situation. I also pray that my son, or future grandchildren do not ever take part in such things.

Incest should not be so a strange idea to devotees of bible, since there were only two who populated word. Unless I'm getting the idea wrong, there must have been a massive incest in the beginning of the mankind, should you believe the bible.

Why does Patrick go to jail and not Susan?

This is an interesting and difficult case to follow. Eventually, the issue of incestuous relationships will arise in the United States. Watch for fireworks when our American "Puritan" viewpoints again conflict with our protected civil liberties.

Wrong love , wrong freedom. not much different from animals

Thousands of years ago, the Chinese recognised potential medical problems in inbreeding and sorted the problem by using clan surnames so that there would be less incidents of this happening. The victim of their actions, is their children's children.
What a curse! I am certain it happens in many country. Save the future children, make it illegal.

In this case, where they were unaware of each other I think this is OK. The genetic argument could be completely turned around as many “purebreds” are done using siblings, parent children and the like. In the modern world in utero testing allows one to screen for many issues before hand, but then this becomes more of a genetic testing / abortion debate. Jail time seems more destructive to the children then keeping the family unit intact. Another way to attack this is – it is not a gender equal law – why is that that only the male will go to jail?

My personal opinion is that this is beyond the relm of good taste. Incest is disgusting and it should be illegal. I feel for their children. Can you imagine what they will think when they find out? Are we cousins or siblings? My oh my them poor children. The adults in this situation have really crossed the line with this one regardless of how they met, when the realized they were related it should of ENDED IMMEDIATELY! The only one this couple will eventually have to answer to is GOD!

It's not about sexual freedom, it's about right and wrong. The Bible clearly teaches not to have this kind of relationship with a family member and that's good enough for me. Is this another "alternative lifestyle" we will be asked to accept?

Society's moral codes change. In the US, slavery was legal but, fornication and cohabitation were illegal. That seems backwards, doesn't it? A sexual crime is when one person exerts force or coersion on another. This case involves two ADULTS. Rape and pedophilia involve force or coersion so they are not the same as incest. If we say one needs to be sterilized, why wouldn't this hold true for non-relatives who have a high chance of having children with birth defects? How can someone say it is "unfair" to the children? Ask a person with disabilities if they would rather have not been born. Who are we to say that person shouldn't have life? And people of faith are not only people who associate with organized religious groups. And not all people of faith believe in the same god or God as the next person. For Christians, I don't remember Jesus saying, "You MUST come with me and believe what I believe or I will force you to by changing the law." Not even close. Laws are usually made to protect society from harm. How is this couple "harming" society or themselves? Non-relatives abuse, starve, beat, burn, run out on, neglect and harm their children, too. That is against the law. If the other children were removed because of abuse, that is a separate issue from how their parents are or are not related. If they were removed simply because the parents are siblings, then the state is causing harm by separating them from their parents. I'm not sure what people are afraid will happen if this family is left intact?

When 2 children grow up not knowing each other how are they just SUPPOSED to have a sibling love? Many siblings are adopted and do not share DNA but that sibling love IS natural. This is NOT the first couple I've heard this happen to.

Neither one of them is doing something against their own will. Birth defects are possible with ANY 2 persons regardless of DNA. I'm sure a big percentage of people can trace their history and find inbred relatives more than they'd figured in the last few generations even.

It is a personal moral that some can not begin to think they would have to face. BUT one should unlock their closets and layout all their skeletons for others to judge before they do the same.

It's ludicrous to punish these people because they obviously don't really feel like brother and sister. If, on the other hand, they had been born to different biological parents, had been raised together as brother and sister by the same adoptive parents, and then professed their love for one another, I would consider THAT incestuous.

This is the consequence of the same sex union "marriage." After this, why shouldn't a minor allowed to have relations with an adult. If society is built on feelings and not rules, this will be the result. We have not seen the end of "breaking of barriers." Next will be human to animals. DON'T BE SHOCKED! "FREE" SOCIETY, ASKED FOR THIS!

Why would only he go to jail? Isn't she a responsible party as well? Or does German law only penalize the male?

I believe that laws that limit individual freedom of association should be repealed. Incestuous sex between adults is such an association.

Birth defects happen at a more-or-less unpredictable rate throughout the population. Does the State have a compelling interest in forbidding women over 40 from having sex? Or shall the State require all fetuses tested for Downs Syndrome, or forbid couples who have had a Downs child from ever having another? The answers, obviously, are NO. Laws against incest are just relics of ancient superstitions.

There are a couple of interesting aspects to this case. First, the article notes that many other European countries have already decriminalized incest "long ago." The German High Court has a chance to align German law with other European countries, which is important for the EU.

The other aspect is that the male, Patrick, will have to go to jail for a second 2 year term if the high court doesn't overturn the law. It seems to me that there are two who participate in incestuous sex, so how come both brother and sist