In Vitro Fertilization

There is a pretty good article in The Tidings this week by Fr. Richard Benson, C.M., academic dean and professor of moral theology at St. John's Seminary, concerning What's wrong with in vitro fertilization?

Often the Catholic couple brings a moral rationale with them when they are seeking moral guidance. The rationale might be stated as follows:

"The Church teaches us that having children is one of the two goals of marriage. We don't use contraception and have tried for years to get pregnant, but sadly without success. If medicine can help us do what nature cannot why is that wrong, especially since we are such a pro-life church? If God has given us a mind to invent things that help us thrive, like modern medicines that cure and planes, trains and automobiles that move us faster and farther than legs could ever take us, why is using the invention of in vitro fertilization wrong? After all, we're using our own eggs and sperm, just like if we conceived naturally. Isn't this just another example of us using our minds to do something good, something that God wants from every married couple?"

...While no one should doubt the innate goodness of every infertile married couple's heartfelt desire to have children of their own, there are several basic moral principles that we must keep in mind.

First, we can never be satisfied to define every moral act simply by evaluating the intention behind the act. St. Augustine reminded us centuries ago that "the road to hell is paved with good intentions." His admittedly polemic statement does clearly remind us of its more theological translation, "One may not do evil, that good may come about."

The Church has always made it clear that while she encourages the use of reason and human invention in all areas of human endeavor, especially medicine and science, she at the same time recognizes that there are limits to the applications of some of humankind's interventions in nature. Just because science can do something does not mean that it should do it. Anything that harms or attacks the human person is immoral.

He then goes into some reasons why IVP is harmful.

1. A child is ultimately a gift from God, not something manufactured in a laboratory. No child should ever been seen as a commodity, which is what they are when one considers that IVF treatments cost tens of thousands of dollars.

2. The Church has never taught that couples have a right to children, simply that they need to be open to them, should God bless them with children.

3. Conception outside of natural intercourse turns the couple and family into a biological laboratory.

4. IVF involves the destruction of embryos, vulnerable human lives. "Leftover" embryos are first frozen and then often abandoned and left to slowly disintegrate over time, or may be given away for experimental purposes.

As with other issues in bioethics, this is becoming increasingly relevant. There are plenty of Catholic couples who, in their sincere desire have a family, have considered using IVP.