Test Tube Babies

[St_Joseph_Cupertino]

Hi guys!

Someone asked me this question the other day and I had no idea as to the Chruch's standing, maybe y'all can shed some light?

A husband and a wife wants children, but for some reason can't concieve naturally. Is there anything wrong to extract the egg and sperm, fertilize it in a dish and re-insert it?

Noooo idea!

Thanks and Peace in Christ!

 

[Paul S]

Yes.

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." "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."

 

[ShannonMcCatholic]

IVF (in vitro fetrtilization) necessarliy divorces the untitive and creative aspects of the marital act. Both must always be present (at least potentially), for the act to be licit.

As I wrote in the "Frozen Embryo" thread- as I was describing how this was done to young teenagers- they were horrified and thought it sounded like something from Frankenstein. I explained that the desire to have children is very, very good- but that it cannot be achieved by any means necessary- just as giving to the poor is a very, very good thing- but one cannot go rob a bank to give to the poor.

 

[St_Joseph_Cupertino]

Aaaaahhhh! Thanks.

That was short and sweet! Nice!

Peace in Christ!