IVF Violates Human Dignity
Science and technology have made enormous contributions to our lives and society. But the fact that a certain procedure is technologically possible does not make it ethically right.
What is in vitro fertilization?
"In vitro" literally means "in glass." In vitro fertilization is a process whereby human life is generated in a laboratory environment like a glass petri dish.
How is in vitro fertilization carried out?
In vitro fertilization begins when fertility technicians administer hormone treatments to a woman. The hormones hyper-stimulate the woman's ovaries to produce a number of eggs at one time. The eggs are collected from the woman's body and then combined with sperm. The resulting embryos are nourished in laboratory cultures and inserted into the woman's body with the hope that one embryo will successfully implant in the lining of the womb and develop. The process is very controlled and involves numerous trips to the in vitro fertilization center.
How does in vitro fertilization cause the death of human embryos?
The Jones Institute, one of the pioneers of in vitro fertilization, reports that only 10 to 20% of the human embryos produced by in vitro fertilization ever result in a normal pregnancy. The Centers for Disease Control estimated that in 1998, 28,000 babies were born through in vitro fertilization in the United States. This means that 140,000 - 280,000 human embryos are missing from the equation for that year alone.
What happens to the rest of the embryos?
-Many embryos die in the transfer process since they are fragile.
·-Some embryos are unwanted and eliminated because they are considered genetically inadequate.
·-Some embryos are stored alive in freezers.
·-Some embryos are unwanted and eliminated because they are considered genetically inadequate.
·-Some embryos are stored alive in freezers.
-Some embryos are simply killed as they are washed down the sink.
Why is this wrong?
It is a scientific fact that human life begins at conception/fertilization. From conception, a human embryo has a complete genetic code and his or her growth and development is totally coordinated from within. Human embryos are human children--sons and daughters!
"Human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception. From the first moment of his existence, a human being must be recognized as having the rights of a person."
When this fundamental moral line is violated or obscured, categories of people become devalued and they become easily used for utilitarian purposes.
What about infertile couples who desperately want a child?
No one has the right to a child. Even for the most loving of couples, there is no right to a child through either normal conjugal relations or reproductive technologies.
In vitro fertilization turns children into commodities. When a couple undergoes in vitro fertilization, they are saying, "We want a child no matter what," and the child becomes an object. This evolves into a selective mentality, whereby couples choose the kind of child they want.
Above all, a child is a gift. Gifts should not be controlled or manipulated. Cooperating with God's plan for human procreation ensures that all children are accepted as gifts.
If in vitro fertilization did not bring death or harm to human embryos, would it be okay?
In vitro fertilization is wrong because it separates human procreation from conjugal union. In the process, couples make themselves the masters of human life instead of its stewards.
Conjugal union has both a unitive and a procreative purpose. In other words, conjugal intimacy is meant to express both love and fruitfulness.
Because the human person is a unity of body and spirit, both the unitive and procreative meanings of the conjugal act must be expressed spiritually and physically. The Biblical notion of "two in one flesh" (cf. Gen 2:24) has a concrete significance here.
Spousal union is expressed both spiritually and physically. And at the same time, the procreative dimension of conjugal union yields both spiritual benefits and physical fruits. When conjugal union is physically fruitful, a couple participates in God's creative act instead of dominating it.
What is the fundamental principle?
Any reproductive technique that replaces the conjugal act undermines the meaning of conjugal union and is an affront human dignity. Any technique that assists the conjugal, such hormone therapy, is not a violation of the dignity of procreation.
How does marital integrity protect human dignity?
Maintaining both the unitive and procreative meanings of conjugal union guards against the demand for children as a right and the use of spouses for sex. Respect for love and life as essential aspects of martial integrity helps ensure that spouses and children are appreciated as gifts. On a profound level, marital integrity is needed to protect human dignity.
Sometimes an embryo will die in normal conjugal relations. Why is it a big deal if embryos die in the process of in vitro fertilization?
In normal conjugal relations, no one makes the intentional choice to cause the death or harm of embryos. With in vitro fertilization, there is an intentional choice to carry out a procedure whose consequences are known in advance.
Isn't adoption the same as demanding a child?
Adopting a child is accepting someone who, because of some unfortunate circumstance, needs a loving home. Adoption is a generous act focused on a child who already exists.
Using in vitro fertilization is not accepting a child as a gift, but rather manipulating a child into existence.
What about the children that come from in vitro fertilization? Do they have less dignity?
God allows children to be conceived through in vitro fertilization because He respects human freedom. But this does not mean that in vitro fertilization children have any less God-given dignity. Every child is made in the image of God and deserves to be protected and loved.
However, this does not mean we can condone in vitro fertilization. Analogously, children are born outside of marriage. These children have no less dignity, but that doesn't mean we should promote the practice.
Why is this wrong?
It is a scientific fact that human life begins at conception/fertilization. From conception, a human embryo has a complete genetic code and his or her growth and development is totally coordinated from within. Human embryos are human children--sons and daughters!
"Human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception. From the first moment of his existence, a human being must be recognized as having the rights of a person."
When this fundamental moral line is violated or obscured, categories of people become devalued and they become easily used for utilitarian purposes.
What about infertile couples who desperately want a child?
No one has the right to a child. Even for the most loving of couples, there is no right to a child through either normal conjugal relations or reproductive technologies.
In vitro fertilization turns children into commodities. When a couple undergoes in vitro fertilization, they are saying, "We want a child no matter what," and the child becomes an object. This evolves into a selective mentality, whereby couples choose the kind of child they want.
Above all, a child is a gift. Gifts should not be controlled or manipulated. Cooperating with God's plan for human procreation ensures that all children are accepted as gifts.
If in vitro fertilization did not bring death or harm to human embryos, would it be okay?
In vitro fertilization is wrong because it separates human procreation from conjugal union. In the process, couples make themselves the masters of human life instead of its stewards.
Conjugal union has both a unitive and a procreative purpose. In other words, conjugal intimacy is meant to express both love and fruitfulness.
Because the human person is a unity of body and spirit, both the unitive and procreative meanings of the conjugal act must be expressed spiritually and physically. The Biblical notion of "two in one flesh" (cf. Gen 2:24) has a concrete significance here.
Spousal union is expressed both spiritually and physically. And at the same time, the procreative dimension of conjugal union yields both spiritual benefits and physical fruits. When conjugal union is physically fruitful, a couple participates in God's creative act instead of dominating it.
What is the fundamental principle?
Any reproductive technique that replaces the conjugal act undermines the meaning of conjugal union and is an affront human dignity. Any technique that assists the conjugal, such hormone therapy, is not a violation of the dignity of procreation.
How does marital integrity protect human dignity?
Maintaining both the unitive and procreative meanings of conjugal union guards against the demand for children as a right and the use of spouses for sex. Respect for love and life as essential aspects of martial integrity helps ensure that spouses and children are appreciated as gifts. On a profound level, marital integrity is needed to protect human dignity.
Sometimes an embryo will die in normal conjugal relations. Why is it a big deal if embryos die in the process of in vitro fertilization?
In normal conjugal relations, no one makes the intentional choice to cause the death or harm of embryos. With in vitro fertilization, there is an intentional choice to carry out a procedure whose consequences are known in advance.
Isn't adoption the same as demanding a child?
Adopting a child is accepting someone who, because of some unfortunate circumstance, needs a loving home. Adoption is a generous act focused on a child who already exists.
Using in vitro fertilization is not accepting a child as a gift, but rather manipulating a child into existence.
What about the children that come from in vitro fertilization? Do they have less dignity?
God allows children to be conceived through in vitro fertilization because He respects human freedom. But this does not mean that in vitro fertilization children have any less God-given dignity. Every child is made in the image of God and deserves to be protected and loved.
However, this does not mean we can condone in vitro fertilization. Analogously, children are born outside of marriage. These children have no less dignity, but that doesn't mean we should promote the practice.
