Catholic bishops are urging lawmakers to oppose a bill that would create a federally sanctioned right to access in vitro fertilization (IVF) — a fertility treatment that has resulted in the deaths of millions of human embryos in the United States. IVF is a medical procedure that fuses sperm and egg in a lab environment to conceive a child outside of the sexual act. The live embryo is later implanted into a uterus to continue developing until birth.
In Vitro Fertilization Ethics
That can involve abstaining from sexual relations, even during your honeymoon. And it’s something to discern, but other people come to the conclusion, “Well, no, we’re open to this, and it’s our honeymoon. We don’t want to do that.” And they make the opposite decision. That’s what I want to talk about here in today’s podcast.
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- (In vitro in Latin means literally in glass.) Since then, thousands of babies have been born utilizing this method of genetic manipulation, many of them to couples and even single people who could conceive no other way.
- Without questioning the motives of those using these techniques, Donum Vitae pointed out that people can do harm to themselves and others even as they try to do what is good, that is, overcome infertility.
- If the teaching authority of the Church should judge the procedure to be immoral, however, GIFT should no longer be used.
- After all, they think, why does it matter how our child is created if we love and take care of him?
Where do babies come from?: The church and IVF
But we have an issue, that pro-life issue gets involved here… By pro-life, I mean opposition to killing innocent human beings, gets involved here when multiple embryos are created and only one is implanted. IVF makes the child a commodity produced in a laboratory, and makes doctors, technicians, and even business people part of the conception process. The sperm used is usually obtained by masturbation, which the Church teaches is immoral. The sperm or eggs used may not come from the couple desiring the child; because one of the spouses may be infertile, it may be necessary to use the sperm or eggs from an outsider. Most of the what is the catholic churchs position on ivf embryos conceived—which the Church holds should be respected new human lives—die, are frozen indefinitely for later implantation, are used for research, or are discarded.
So, that’s one element that we needed to talk about it for those who want resources to bear the weight of this cross, and understanding the kind of cross this is that people bear. In this episode, Trent talks about the Church’s teaching on infertility and the right and wrong ways to confront it while sharing his and Laura’s own experiences with this issue. It needs to be clearly stated that when IVF or any other kind of artificial fertilization does happen, the resulting life is no less human and no less to be accepted with love.
Of ethics and embryos
Undesired embryos are routinely destroyed or used for scientific research, which kills those preborn children. The Catholic Church’s position on in vitro fertilization (IVF) is rooted in its deep commitment to the dignity of human life and the sanctity of marriage. As IVF has become a widely used solution for couples facing infertility, many Catholics and others may wonder how this procedure aligns with the teachings of the Church.
- The Pope Paul VI Institute at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska has been successful in helping couples overcome infertility using natural methods.
- Implanting them in the mother is the best course of action at this point, but unlikely in many cases.
- Almost half of the human embryos created through IVF are “discarded” during the process, according to the Center for Genetics and Society.
- Other theologians—among them May, Germain Grisez, and Geoffrey Surtees—maintain that Msgr.
- Adoption is a courageous decision, with emotional and financial costs, that enables a child to receive the love from mother and father, husband and wife.
- Susan Ciancio has a BA in psychology and a BA in sociology from the University of Notre Dame, with an MA in liberal studies from Indiana University.
It is unknown how long they can survive in this state, but twins frozen for 30 years were born in 2022. The long-term health effects of decades of freezing at the embryonic stage of development are something scientists will be investigating. There is a newer procedure called vitrification that flash-freezes human embryos by immersing them in liquid nitrogen. Technicians replace the water in the small number of cells composing the embryo with a special protectant fluid that seeks to prevent the formation of ice crystals that can harm or kill these tiny human beings. Johns Hopkins Medicine claims that their improved process leads to over 95% of the embryos surviving freezing and thawing.
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They believe this based on the fact that it occurs in a section of the document that deals with the moral evaluation of this type of research. As such, supervisory services are required for all treatments involving lab manipulation or cryopreservation of sperm, ovum or embryos. Both for male factor testing and in order to use sperm for intrauterine insemination or in vitro fertilization the couple must first collect a sperm sample. For many religious groups this creates a challenge due to a prohibition on masturbation. This is clearly wrong because it constitutes the direct killing of human life.
Some embryos may be discarded, frozen indefinitely, or used for research purposes, which the Church sees as equivalent to ending a human life. The Catholic Church is against IVF, deeming it ‘morally unacceptable’ because it separates the marital act from procreation and relies on technology. The Church references the Catechism of the Catholic Church and the Vatican document Donum Vitae, which outline the moral distinctions concerning fertility treatments and highlight the risks of objectifying children in the IVF process. Additionally, the Church argues that IVF often leads to the commodification of human life, as embryos are created, manipulated, and sometimes discarded based on perceived desirability. This treatment of human embryos as disposable or subject to selection undermines the dignity of each human being, who is created in the image and likeness of God. However, the procedure also raises ethical concerns, particularly related to the handling of embryos.
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Many saints have undergone similar difficulties, and spouses can turn to them for help. There’s a patron saint of pregnancy for every situation, including overcoming infertility. And Catholic ministries like Springs in the Desert and The Fruitful Hollow are available to offer solace and peace during these difficult times. These groups provide resources, small group meetings, and information about moral treatments for couples facing infertility. If, for example, five babies were deemed to have the best potential, the mother might choose to have three implanted and save the other two for a future time.
According to Catholic doctrine, the marital act is not only a physical expression of love between husband and wife but also a participation in God’s creative power. This intimate union is meant to be open to the possibility of new life, as it reflects the natural order and purpose of marriage. The Church emphasizes that the procreative and unitive dimensions of marital intimacy should never be separated, as both are essential to the dignity of the spouses and the sanctity of marriage. In our day many techniques and therapies have been developed to overcome infertility. In the United States an entire “industry” has emerged with little or no governmental or professional regulations to protect the interests of the men, women or children who become involved. Women receive fertility drugs which can result in their conceiving four, five or six children at once, risking their own health and the health of their children.
The Church invites you to seek reconciliation and spiritual guidance, and to explore its teachings on life and dignity with an open heart. Moreover, NaProTECHNOLOGY has been shown to be more effective, affordable, and safer than IVF, offering a morally acceptable alternative for couples seeking to conceive. For those interested in learning more or finding a NaProTECHNOLOGY practitioner, additional resources are available.
