Parasitic twins – two souls?

[Neithan]

In the case of parasitic twins, what has happened to the “vestigial” twin? Did it have a soul at conception and is now departed? Does its soul remain for the lifetime of the healthy twin?

What theological implications are there for these sorts of medical anomalies?

 

[cjforJesus]

In the case of parasitic twins, what has happened to the “vestigial” twin? Did it have a soul at conception and is now departed? Does its soul remain for the lifetime of the healthy twin?

What theological implications are there for these sorts of medical anomalies?

Probably the soul of the vestigial twin departs when the anomaly occurs and development ceases.The soul is infused at conception though and only God knows when it actually departs

 

[GEddie]

One soul per body, max.

When vestigial traces of the body remain, there may have been a soul, but not anymore; the Holy Church has never ruled on when ensoulment takes place, only that life begins at conception, IIUC.

ICXC NIKA

 

[3DOCTORS]

In the case of parasitic twins, what has happened to the “vestigial” twin? Did it have a soul at conception and is now departed? Does its soul remain for the lifetime of the healthy twin?

What theological implications are there for these sorts of medical anomalies?

I would think it had a soul and that soul went back to God when the little one stopped developing. I don’t know how complete the body formation would have to be though for it to be considered a full human - if it was just a few parts maybe not? Tough call. Let’s pray that all mothers get good prenatal care and if there are twins or multiples that they all get a chance to develop normally.

 

[GEddie]

Since the science and the Church are agreed that human life exists from conception, ie, embryonically; I don’t imagine it has to look much like a body in order to have a soul.

Consider that in thalidomide cases, there was never a complete body yet indubitably a soul.

ICXC NIKA.