Artificial insemination, in vitro fertilization, and surrogate motherhood are immoral because they involve sexual acts that are procreative, but not unitive. And, rightful conception must respect the inseparability of the two meanings of the sexual act.
IVF and Christianity
According to traditional Christian views, beginning at conception, the embryo has moral status as a human being, and thus most assisted reproductive technologies are forbidden.
The Catholic Church believes that IVF is never acceptable because it removes conception from the marital act and because it treats a baby as a product to be manipulated, violating the child's integrity as a human being with an immortal soul from the moment of conception (Donum Vitae 1987).
Unfortunately, most Catholics are not aware of the Church's teaching, do not know that IVF is immoral, and some have used it in attempting to have children. If a couple is unaware that the procedure is immoral, they are not subjectively guilty of sin.
In Genesis 1:28, God said: "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it." Similarly, the psalmist says: "Behold, children are an heritage from the Lord. The fruit of the womb is his reward. Like arrows in the hand of the warrior, so are the children of one's youth.
In Psalm 139, the psalmist says to God: “Thou didst see my limbs unformed in the womb, and in thy book they are all recorded.” “It is extremely powerful, the idea in this psalm, that in this 'unformed' embryo God already sees the whole future,” Benedict said.
There are six stories of barren women in the Hebrew Bible: three of the four matriarchs, Sarah (Genesis 11:30), Rebekah (25:21), and Rachel (29:31); Hannah, mother of the prophet Samuel (1 Samuel 1-2); the anonymous wife of Manoah, mother of Samson (Judges 13); and the “great woman of Shunem,” also called the ...
Artificial insemination, in vitro fertilization, and surrogate motherhood are immoral because they involve sexual acts that are procreative, but not unitive. And, rightful conception must respect the inseparability of the two meanings of the sexual act.
There are, however, other reasons why IVF is wrong: babies are treated as objects created in a sort of assembly line with the involvement of many different workers and quality control. The children born through IVF may have a greater incidence of complications at birth, and an increase in birth defects.
The “Catholic-friendly” feature highlighted by some providers is also the principal protocol distinguishing INVOcell from IVF. INVOcell affords both fertilization of egg by sperm and the incubation of the early embryo within the woman's body (in vivo).
In standard IVF cases, by contrast, we produce embryos with purely reproductive intentions. The inevitable destruction of some embryos is merely an unintended side effect of IVF.
In vitro fertilization is permissible as long as the semen and ovum are from a husband and wife who are legally married and the fertilization takes place during their marriage, not after divorce or the death of the husband.
The ultimate advantage of IVF is achieving a successful pregnancy and a healthy baby. IVF can make this a reality for people who would be unable to have a baby otherwise: Blocked tubes: For women with blocked or damaged fallopian tubes, IVF provides the best opportunity of having a child using their own eggs.
The Bible is full of encouragement and faithful company for the infertile: God's instruction to humanity to 'be fruitful and multiply,' separates multiplying and living fruitfully: living a fruitful life for God is possible even for those that have not managed to work out the human multiplication equation.
Abrahamic religious traditions demonstrate support for elective egg freezing (EEF). Catholicism is the exception, prohibiting EEF for fertility preservation. Religious women are turning to EEF when they cannot find a marital partner.
The failure to implant embryos into the uterus lining is one of the major reasons for failure of IVF. The doctors are yet to find out the exact reasons for the unsuccessful attempt. The misfiring of the attempt can happen due to two reasons; either due to the problem of the embryo or because of the uterus.
IVF increases the likelihood of twins, triplets or high-order multiples, with accompanying risk for premature birth, high blood pressure, placenta abnormalities and other challenges. Advanced maternal age (often the reason for IVF) increases risk for miscarriage and birth defects.
“The Church discourages artificial insemination or in vitro fertilization using sperm from anyone but the husband or an egg from anyone but the wife. However, this is a personal matter that is ultimately left to the judgment and prayerful consideration of a lawfully married man and woman.”
Therefore, often results in emotional and financial loss. Children born through methods like IVF are more prone to complications like mental retardation, chronic lung problems, cerebral palsy and learning disabilities. Another social issue is the concern of age.
Thus, except the story of Abraham and Sarah in Abimelech's court, it can be concluded that infertility is not synonymous with God's punishment. The stories of infertile women in the Bible are lifted to emphasise that God alone is in charge of who can conceive, when and how they can conceive.
God's love for humanity is limitless. Hence, in respect to barrenness, He says: “there shall be no barren in the land.” His Words are to be taken for what it is, for He can never lie. “Has He said a thing and it did not come to pass?” (Isaiah 46:8-11).
Sarah was childless until she was 90 years old. God promised Abraham that she would be “a mother of nations” (Genesis 17:16) and that she would conceive and bear a son, but Sarah did not believe.