Many people have asked for my comments/thoughts on the IVF case that has made national news the past week or so. I will be happy to talk about the Church's teaching on IVF; in fact, as soon as I can get my act together, I'll make a "warp speed" catechetical talk on the matter.
The reason I don't feel comfortable talking on the specific case is because there is a lot that I don't know, and it just has the feel of something that a priest shouldn't weigh in on without knowing all of the facts.
I think this Today show piece does a nice job of explaining the situation (write this date down - when have I ever said that before???), but again, probably not prudent to comment on something like this with so many questions left unanswered. Pray for all involved.
Such a dilemma to be punished for telling the truth, but of course this truth concerns one of the non-negotiables; those who would lie or keep this action secret go without punishment. Another example of a situation where a male may not suffer for such a family procedure done in private... except for suffering with his conscience... Prayers for all involved...
ReplyDeleteIf you don't mind, I'll jump in on one misleading point in the video. In several places the piece suggested that the Church's teaching against IVF is based on the destruction of embryos. NO. NO. NO! That of course is a wicked thing, but that is after the fact of the main reason it is wrong before anyone even gets on the examination table: it divorces procreation from the marital act.
ReplyDeleteHere is the Catechism:
2377 Techniques involving only the married couple (homologous artificial insemination and fertilization) are perhaps less reprehensible, yet remain morally unacceptable. 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."168 "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 . . . . Only respect for the link between the meanings of the conjugal act and respect for the unity of the human being make possible procreation in conformity with the dignity of the person."169
To wit: even if there was an IVF technique that did not involve involve embryonic destruction, it would still be wrong.
As far as the case goes, like you, I will wait for more facts.