One of the most difficult things in talking about reproductive technology, is that it is so emotional. The desire to parent can be so strong, that like JackPaul’s sister, couples are “willing to do anything” to become parents.
When my husband and I realized we were having trouble conceiving, we contacted our archdiocesan’s canon lawyer for information on the Church’s stance on how we could proceed. We then talked to the priest that married us. I ready everything I could find (which in 1992 wasn’t much) from the Church’s perspective. Nonetheless, thank God, we knew where the line was to be drawn.
During one of our first visits to a local reproductive technology office (trying to determine what was wrong), our doctor scoffed (yes, scoffed) when we told her we were Catholic and intended to stay within our Church’s teaching. She said she had a waiting room full of Catholics that were willing to do whatever it takes to have a baby. Did we want a baby, or did we want to do what some man in Rome told us to do?!
JackPaul:
Finally, they went the AI route and she gave birth to two beautiful boys. In spite of the arguments against, she was desperate and was willing to do anything to become a mother. She did have a moral attitude about this and only **allowed two eggs to be fertilized ** and refused any kind of unnatural selection to take place.
JackPaul, the process you describe above is not AI, but rather IVF (In Vitro Fertilization).
“One reproductive technology which the Church has clearly and unequivocally judged to be immoral is in vitro fertilization or IVF. Unfortunately, most Catholics are not aware of the Church’s teaching, do not know that IVF is immoral, and some have used it in attempting to have children.
If a couple is unaware that the procedure is immoral, they are not subjectively guilty of sin. Children conceived through this procedure are children of God and are loved by their parents, as they should be.
Like all children, regardless of the circumstances of their conception and birth, they should be loved, cherished and cared for.” (emphasis added)
The above quote comes from “Begotten Not Made: A Catholic View of Reproductive Technology” by John M. Haas, Ph.D., S.T.L. To read the entire article at the USCCB website, go here:
usccb.org/prolife/programs/rlp/98rlphaa.htm
The fact that God allows children to be born from different immoral technological processes does not give them His stamp of approval. (See the paragraph in “Begotten Not Made…” that begins “Scripture is filled with accounts…”)
“Begotten Not Made…” also references “Donum Vitae” (The Gift of Life) Instruction on Respect for Human Life In its Origin and the Dignity of Procreation: Replies to Certain Questions of the Day. You can also read this at the USCCB website:
nccbuscc.org/prolife/tdocs/donumvitae.htm
I started by telling a bit of my personal story above, because I want anyone reading this to understand a tiny portion of my experience and pain from infertility. I’m not posting these words as someone on the outside looking at infertility from a distance, and I’m not judging. My husband and I were angry, sad, and confused. But we prayed and prayed. I don’t think either of us are surprised to find that God’s denial (and our acceptance of His will) was also probably the most beautiful gift He has given us. We have both grown spiritually and emotionally as individuals, and as a couple, from the difficulties and pain we’ve shared—the pain that God allowed into our lives through infertility.
Ten years and 13 days after we got married, we were blessed with our beautiful, adopted daughter. From Matthew 7: “The gate is narrow, the way is hard, that leads to life.”
In the end, between our infertility and becoming involved in our parish’s Respect Life ministry, I have learned so much about the beauty and sanctity of God’s ***gift ** * of life, and for this I am eternally grateful! I hope the above-referenced articles can help someone else.
AMDG
Debbie
