Assisted Reproductive Technology

[7anthony7]

Hello to all.
I have a son who applied to a firm that is involved in assisted reproductive technology.
They manufacture the media where the sperm and egg are combined.
If accepted, this will be his second job out of school. He is lucky to have his current job in this current economy where most newly college grads can not find a job. However he feels he can move up the career path by working for this new firm.
Knowing artificial reproduction is against God’s will, Is he committing a sin for working in a firm involved with it?
If it is, as his father, should I advice him against it. On the other hand, as a father, I feel that I’m limiting my son’s economic future by advising against firms that are involved in matters not approved by the Church? A major portion of his job opportunities, because of his education (BS BIO) would be this sort of companies. I’m torn between advising him against being involved with those companies and limiting his economic future or growth.
Advice would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance

 

[FrenzyJen]

Wouldn’t the “media” that they manufacture just be petri dish sort of things? That could be used for any number of purposes, and I would think that would be permissible.

 

[Ad_Orientem]

For a just reason (such as putting food on the table; scarcity of jobs) it can be permissible to work for an organization that does immoral things, so long as the employee is not directly involved in the evil done. In moral theology this is called “remote cooperation with evil.” The more remote the cooperation, the easier it is to justify. Take for example a janitor at a hospital that does normal things which hospitals do, but which also employs doctors who perform abortions.

Some organizations, however, exist for the sole purpose of moral evil, and I think it would be difficult if not impossible to justify working for such an organization in any capacity whatever. Even if the cooperation is remote, there is the added sin of scandal, and quite possibly near occasions of sin (e.g. the janitor for a strip club).

One must also consider the kind of company with whom one will come into contact. Do you want your son to “move up” in such an organization as you describe? Want him to be influenced by those kinds of values?

 

[aceit]

Yes that specific media is used specifically for IVF, however, it is only one product among various other product not related to IVF the company deals with.
Would it make a difference if he is not involved with that specific department?

 

[edwest2]

Assisted Reproductive Technology may have a good desire in mind but the medium is used for in-vitro fertilization that will produce embryos with some that may be discarded or used in embryonic stem cell research. This is not licit.

A Bachelor’s in Biology may make him a suitable candidate for a drug research firm, cancer research institute or research hospital as an assistant and then he can work his way up.

Just google - jobs bachelors biology

God bless,
Ed