Do i congratulate couple who are expecting? (by means of ivf)

[on_the_hill]

Ivf seems so normal these days, especially with catholic couples!

I just happened to see this OP.

Is it normal? I’ve never known anyone who’s done it, Catholic or not.

 

[MacQ]

As Catholic, you are obliged, in as charitable a way as possible, to explain to the parents why IVF is against the moral law. Before doing this, I would study carefully exactly what the Church teaches. There is absolutely no guilt whatsoever on the child. If you say nothing, then your lack of fortitude may lead the couple to continue to sin in ignorance, in which case you may yourself be culpable.

Oh please.

 

[MacQ]

Of course!

Of course.

 

[DarkLight]

Normally I’d say yes since babies should be considered a blessing, but I’d have to say that it depends on the circumstances. We knew a couple who were expecting and had gone through numerous rounds of IVF before having a successful pregnancy. Despite claiming to be Catholics themselves, they had previously taken issue with us having the gall to actually practice our faith and believe all those ridiculous, outdated teachings of those out-of-touch old white men in Rome, so when they told us about the impending baby they made sure to also mention how many embryos had been “discarded” throughout the whole process. We didn’t feel congratulations were in order under the circumstances.

I have to say, this seems less of an issue about IVF and congratulations and more that they were using the “announcement” to be passive-aggressive jerks.