Saturday, July 18, 2009
In Vitro Fertilization?
It is my understanding that the Catholic Church's position on In Vetro Fertilization to create a child is that it is an evil act on par with abortion. My son Drew was born 2 months ago and was the result of a successful In Vetro procedure. After a year of unsuccessfully creating a child naturally, my wife and I attempted 4-5 procedures and numerous miscarriages drew was the result of our final try. Adoption was too expensive and my insurance actually covered the infertility procedures. Now I find that the existence of my miracle child is basically condemned by the Catholic Church. I had always planned on having my boy christened but why would I do so when the church is against his existence? I am struggling with all of this and quite honestly very angry about it. Unless visitation for some reason does not share these same views what am I really to do? Can anyone help me understand this? Edward
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Dear Ed,
ReplyDeleteOne thing I do know is that you, your wife and God co-created Drew and the church rejoices in his EXISTENCE. CONDEMNED is a harsh word and no one has the power to condemn you to hell. God really leaves the decision of eternal damnation up to us because we always have the freedom to either choose to except God's mercy or decline it. St. Paul says that nothing can separate us from the love of God.What the church does have is the power to FORGIVE. Yes the church does TEACH that abortion and IVF are inherently wrong and are serious matters and it hopes that we will be proactive in following those teachings, but after the fact the church, like the father of the Prodigal Son is full of compassion and love welcoming us sinners home again.
The question that the church tries to address here is, does what we do go against what it defines as the "Natural Law". It is obvious that as Catholics we're now called to believe that life begins at conception. In other words, when the sperm and the egg meet God imbues that union with a soul. In the eyes of the church that soul is already a child of God so to end that life before or after it is implanted in the womb is no different than ending it after it leaves the womb.
As in the case of abortion, it is the unborn that disturbs the church. So herein lies a problem the church must address; typically the process involves multiple fertilized eggs. Some held in reserve and usually more than one implanted in the womb on the assumption that they won't all survive and that if they do the doctor may abort the weaker ones so that the stronger ones have a better chance. In addition there is the question of what to do with the fertilized eggs that may have been held in reserve after the couple has all the children they can provide for.
I'm not sure what was done in your case but that is in the past and was probably done without full knowledge of the church teaching so you were not acting in defiance of that teaching. A loving and forgiving church is eager to welcome you and Drew into the community.
My words here are my own speaking as a fellow parishioner. The parish has a special ministry headed by Deacon Sal that is specifically aimed at helping people deal with answers to questions like this. I encourage you to get in touch with him and meet with him. Hopefully we will see Drew in one of our August Baptism groups. Lou Barbuscio