Wife wants me to attend IVF seminar

[cantore64]

Should I attend an IVF seminar with my wife?
Quick background: my wife (non-Catholic) and I have been trying to conceive since marrying 2 ½ years ago, without success. We’ve spoken with several fertility specialists, and I promised my wife that if she looked into NaPro Technology/Creighton Method options and attended their seminar with me, I’d go with her to an IVF seminar. My wife is fully aware that I cannot consent to IVF since I am a practicing Catholic, and we are continuing to pursue the Creighton Method. My question is: is it okay for me to attend this seminar? I feel I owe it to her to keep my promise. We differ on a number of moral issues (abortion, same-sex “marriage”) and I don’t want to burn my bridges with her by refusing to go hear about IVF, even though it won’t alter my view of it.

 

[JamalChristophr]

There is no sin in simply going to the seminar. And you did give your word to your wife as well.

Just keep it clear to her, where you stand. And don’t budge from there one iota.

Pray to Our Lady and St. Gerard Magella. If God wills, she will conceive.

God Bless.

 

[nodito]

Infertility is a terrible cross. I’m so sorry for your struggles and I commend you for remaining faithful to Christ’s Church. May God bless you and your wife with a baby conceived naturally and soon.

The fact that you gave your word to your wife to attend the IVF seminar makes me inclined to suggest that you ought to go to the seminar. I don’t say this lightly. I had a similar struggle in grad school while trying to decide to whether I could in good conscience take a course on contraception. But in the end, I decided that hearing and learning about sin is not the same as condoning or committing it.

My advice would be different if:
a) You have to pay for the seminar or
b) You’re feeling at all ambivalent about IVF and there’s a teeny possibility that hearing about their success rates or stories will make you tempted to commit this sin.

Pray about it. Maybe spend some time in Adoration. Talk to your wife about how seriously opposed you are and make it clear, if you decide to go, that you are doing so only because you are trying to keep your word to her.

God bless.

 

[TigerKitty]

God bless you and your wife. May he bless you with a child.

It can be a terrible oppressive emotional pain for a woman who wants a child but cannot conceive. A coworker of mine was in agony after her final “try” with hormone therapy failed. After she had totally given up, she did finally get pregnant. There is always hope.

 

[ZellieFan]

We differ on a number of moral issues (abortion, same-sex “marriage”)

This jumped out at me. . .Mixed faith marriages are hard but it’s even harder when you differ on core moral values. Usually the “weaker faith” or “no faith” spouse drags the stronger one down.

Best of luck with the fertiility issues and hopefully your wife will have a conversion.