Does the Catholic Church have a stated opinion on the following subject?

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If a Mom has ,say for example 4 boys, and wants to get a girl next time.There are methods or techniques that favor conception of a baby of a certain gender, in this case a girl.
Is that OK?
 
Interesting question. I would like to be enlightened as well.
I suppose if the unitive and procreative aspect is preserved in the marital act (**natural **means is employed, I understand this has something to do with the marital act coupled with the timing of ovulation) it would be ok to favor conception a certain gender. (just my opinion). Of course if the result goes otherwise, it would be a sin if the couple would resent it. We understand that a child is a gift from God to be treasured no matter what gender.
 
I am asking because I understand involves taking some cells from 3 day embrios, analize them,and only transfer to the uterus those that will result in babies of the prechosen gender.That is one of the most successful methods, although there are others.
more related to altering the chemistry in the mucose.But I do not know much about this.I believe I read that.
 
I would think the Church would be against it. It’s really no different than artificial insemination and using a Plan B pill. Even if the embryos are the father’s sperm, they aren’t placed in the egg by natural means, and the embryos that aren’t of the desired gender are destroyed.

Of course, I’m offering an outsider’s perspective.
 
Catechism said:
2271 Since the first century the Church has affirmed the moral evil of every procured abortion. This teaching has not changed and remains unchangeable. Direct abortion, that is to say, **abortion **willed either as an end or a means, is gravely contrary to the moral law:

You shall not kill the embryo by abortion and shall not cause the newborn to perish.

God, the Lord of life, has entrusted to men the noble mission of safeguarding life, and men must carry it out in a manner worthy of themselves. Life must be protected with the utmost care from the moment of conception: abortion and infanticide are abominable crimes.
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Catechism said:
2377 (In-vitro fertilization) They dissociate the sexual act from the procreative act. The act which brings the child into existence is no longer an act by which two persons give themselves to one another, but one that entrusts the life and identity of the embryo into the power of doctors and biologists and establishes the domination of technology over the origin and destiny of the human person. Such a relationship of domination is in itself contrary to the dignity and equality that must be common to parents and children. Under the moral aspect procreation is deprived of its proper perfection when it is not willed as the fruit of the conjugal act, that is to say, of the specific act of the spouses’ union.
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The embryos are babies, they are alive and growing, but were created outside of the union of husband and wife. So to keep one and destroy the others is killing two babies, however small. It’s just wrong:( If she, hypothetically, were to go through with this, I would be a very unhappy girl the day I discover that my mother did such a thing.
 
The Catechism is quite clear in its prohibition against IVF (thanks ljubim).

Also, the Vatican through the CDF has issued clear instructions against IVF and the destruction of embryos for research (Donum Vitae and Dignitas Personae).
The key moral principle in the marital act would then be its unitive and procreative aspect.
IVF does not conform to this moral principle. The natural means might be considered instead, wherein the marital act is timed (the X-Y chromosome of the sperm determines sex). NFP practitioners are aware of the method, although there are no guarantees. Of course the overriding principle would be the couples’ disposition to be that of gratitude and cherishing the gift of life regardless of gender.
 
IVF is prohibited for catholics? even if the couple is having a hard time conceiving naturally?
 
choy said:
IVF is prohibited for catholics? even if the couple is having a hard time conceiving naturally?
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The short answer is yes, IVF is not morally licit from the Catholic perspective.
The long answer is provided in Donum Vitae, at the time when the Vatican CDF was presided over by its then prefect Cardinal Ratzinger. It is worthwhile to read the document in its entirety.

It partly states in Section II # 5:

*"…the Church remain opposed from the moral point of view to homologous ‘in vitro’ fertilization. Such fertilization is in itself illicit and in opposition to the dignity of procreation and of the conjugal union, even when everything is done to avoid the death of the human embryo."
*
Part of Section II # 8 is also particularly helpful:

*“Nevertheless, whatever its cause or prognosis, sterility is certainly a difficult trial. The community of believers is called to shed light upon and support the suffering of those who are unable to fulfill their legitimate aspiration to motherhood and fatherhood. Spouses who find themselves in this sad situation are called to find in it an opportunity for sharing in a particular way in the Lord’s Cross, the source of spiritual fruitfulness. Sterile couples must not forget that “even when procreation is not possible, conjugal life does not for this reason lose its value. Physical sterility in fact can be for spouses the occasion for other important services to the life of the human person, for example, adoption, various forms of educational work, and assistance to other families and to poor or handicapped children”.(59) Many researchers are engaged in the fight against sterility. While fully safeguarding the dignity of human procreation, some have achieved results which previously seemed unattainable. Scientists therefore are to be encouraged to continue their research with the aim of preventing the causes of sterility and of being able to remedy them so that sterile couples will be able to procreate in full respect for their own personal dignity and that of the child to be born.”
*

-WillyJ
randomthoughtsmusings.blogspot.com/
 
Tamsulosin said:
If a Mom has ,say for example 4 boys, and wants to get a girl next time.There are methods or techniques that favor conception of a baby of a certain gender, in this case a girl.
Is that OK?
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I would think that it would be considered okay IF those “methods or techniques” did not cross the line and remained 100% natural. For example - NO cloning, NO test tubes involved, and NO playing God with genes, cells, chromosomes, etc (IE - changing them, destroying male (Y) chromosomes, etc). So, what does that leave? Well, some claim that methods such as the Shettles Method work when trying to conceive a girl. There are other methods (rather silly ones) that claim to help in determining the gender of a child, but I’ll leave it to you to Google those if you so wish. :rolleyes:
 
but what if a Catholic couple has already exhausted all natural means to conceive and its just not possible?
 
Tietjen said:
I would think that it would be considered okay IF those “methods or techniques” did not cross the line and remained 100% natural. For example - NO cloning, NO test tubes involved, and NO playing God with genes, cells, chromosomes, etc (IE - changing them, destroying male (Y) chromosomes, etc). So, what does that leave? Well, some claim that methods such as the Shettles Method work when trying to conceive a girl. There are other methods (rather silly ones) that claim to help in determining the gender of a child, but I’ll leave it to you to Google those if you so wish. :rolleyes:
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Please explain what the Shettles method consist of.Thanks
 
not sure if thats the same but some people claim theres this calendar you can follow depending on the womans cycle

if conception is done on a certain day in that cycle then its a boy, otherwise its a girl

funny thing though is that isnt the X or Y chromosome that determines gender is delivered by the sperm and not the egg? im not a doctor so i wouldn`t know the correct answer
 
choy said:
funny thing though is that isnt the X or Y chromosome that determines gender is delivered by the sperm and not the egg? im not a doctor so i wouldn`t know the correct answer
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Sperm with Y chromosome are quicker, but die faster. Sperm with X chromosome are slower, but last longer. Having sex several days before ovulation will tend to cause the Y sperm to die out, leaving just the X. Having sex right at ovulation will give an advantage to the faster Y sperm.
 
Jordan9 said:
I would think the Church would be against it. It’s really no different than artificial insemination and using a Plan B pill. Even if the embryos are the father’s sperm, they aren’t placed in the egg by natural means, and the embryos that aren’t of the desired gender are destroyed.

Of course, I’m offering an outsider’s perspective.
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No expert either, but I think the Church would be against the destruction of* “unwanted embryos”*, which is just a euphemism for ABORTION. Get rid of the ones you don’t want until your ‘ideal’ one comes along. Or, if you get it right on the first one you test, get rid of the rest that are surplus to requirement:mad:
 
Tamsulosin said:
If a Mom has ,say for example 4 boys, and wants to get a girl next time.There are methods or techniques that favor conception of a baby of a certain gender, in this case a girl.
Is that OK?
Click to expand...
Our Father Who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy Name, Thy Kingdom come, **Thy Will be done, **…

When one prays The Lord’s Prayer, he/she either means it or doesn’t.

Blunt, but true.

God Bless
 
I asked and I was curious because there are fertility clinics that offer services to" balance"
the family.
I think that many catholics may or may not be aware of the Church position on this subject. Catholic families tend to have more children than others, and may fall prey to
this without understanding the implications.
 
so if a Catholic couple cannot conceive naturally, what are the other options???
 
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