Why the Catholic Church is opposed artificial insemination and in vitro fertilization
The Roman Catholic church is no stranger to controversy when it comes to social issues. This is especially true in the areas of reproduction and sexuality. Some of the most basic tenants of the Catholic faith directly address issues in these areas. One of the specific issues that has concerned the Catholic Church is the area of artificial insemination
The Roman Catholic church is no stranger to controversy when it comes to social issues. This is especially true in the areas of reproduction and sexuality. Some of the most basic tenants of the Catholic faith directly address issues in these areas. One of the specific issues that has concerned the Catholic Church is the area of artificial insemination and in vitro fertilization, also known as IVF.
The Catholic Church is opposed to these procedures because of a very specific view of conception, and of the nature of human life. The Catholic church believes (as do many other religious traditions) that life begins at conception. However, the Catholic church also believes in the integrity of conception. Sex, as an act of love between a husband and a wife, is undeniably connected with conception, and the three way relationship between marriage, sex and the conception of a child must be maintained. Thus, the Catholic Church opposes artificial insemination and in vitro fertilization precisely because these procedures interfere with the natural course of conception. In vitro fertilization and artificial insemination interrupt the natural course of things, and separate the conception from marriage, and even from sex.
In addition, the Catholic Church believes that the use of donor sperm or donor eggs, as are often used in artificial insemination and in vitro fertilization, create practical problems for the child once that child is born. The catechism states that such procedures infringe on "the child's right to be born of a father and mother known to him and bound to each other by marriage" (see "Catechism of the Catholic Church" at http://www.vatican.va/archive/ catechism/p3s2c2a6.htm#III.)
Finally, the Catholic Church opposes artificial insemination and in vitro fertilization because it believes that the potential for life exists in every sexual act. Thus, if a man ejaculates outside of the act of sexual intercourse with his wife, the potential for life is wasted and, in a sense, that potential life is robbed of its chance to exist.
The Catholic Church has received criticism from a variety of groups for its opposition to artificial insemination and in vitro fertilization. It is important to note that, in most instances, the Catholic Church seeks to change the practices of its members in regard to artificial insemination and in vitro fertilization more than it seeks to create legislation on these issues.
For more information see the book Catholic Bioethics and Gift of Human Life .
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Great article! Thoughtfully written. I hope you won't mind me adding one additional point. Another reason why the church opposes AI, IVF, and similar methods is that in many if not most cases, several eggs are harvested and fertilized in the hopes that one will 'take' and survive into a viable pregnancy. When pregnancy is achieved, the remaining embryos are often frozen or outright destroyed. Given the Catholic understanding that life begins at conception, it is easy to see the conflict: if each of those embryos is a human life, the process is then creating multiple children, placing them in a situation where their chances are not good for survival and/or killing them outright, where only one or two will ever have the chance to grow and thrive.