The female body is not ready to bear children as early as it may be ready to conceive - see the medical comments on the Roma child of 10 bearing a son last week. Bone structure, and other physical features simply aren't really up to carrying well and feeding the foetus and delivering it healthily. Leaving aside the emotional readiness. Or the readiness of the father, if also young, to offer care to the infant. Or suitability, if not young.

It is very odd that, given the religious argument for delaying sex given above, that many people to whom it is important that Mary was a virgin find it necessary to believe she was only 14, too young for a healthy pregnancy.

Penny