Reproductive Technology
NaProTechnology
Like thousands of couples across the country, Jacinta and Mike had tried unsuccessfully to conceive a baby. When a friend told them about NaProTechnology, they thought they’d give it a try. To their utter joy, they were successful! According to the couple: “After three cycles of accurate tracking and becoming our own fertility experts, we…
Read More5 Infertility Support Groups for Catholics
Infertility affects about 6.7 million people each year. That’s one out of every eight couples. The crushing effects of being unable to conceive a baby can lead to loneliness, depression, anger, and heartache. If you’re carrying the cross of infertility, know that you do not carry it alone. God is always with you. And He…
Read More8 Uplifting Bible Verses for Couples Struggling with Infertility
Every year, millions of women are devastated to learn that they either have difficulty conceiving a baby or that they’re infertile. While being part of such a large group often makes people feel included and comfortable, being a part of this particular group does the opposite. It makes women feel incredibly alone. The desire for a…
Read MoreThe Frozen Embryo Problem
While in-vitro fertilization (IVF) seems to be a viable solution to infertility for many, the consequences of IVF are often hidden. The clearest consequence is that many more embryos than are “needed” are actually formed. The “extra” embryos are frozen in what is known as cryopreservation.1 These embryos can be conserved for long periods up to…
Read MoreIs There a Right to a Child?
The goal to be a father, to be a mother, is a human right. An absolute human right. ~Italian infertility specialist Severino Antinori.1 God bestowed men and women with an innate desire to procreate and to nurture their children. This is one of the most fundamental instincts of all, shared by all of God’s…
Read MoreOvercoming Infertility–The Catholic Way
It is nearly impossible for those with children to comprehend the depth of the suffering of those who would love to have their own kids but cannot because of infertility. The Catholic View of Infertility Treatments The Bible mentions a number of women who were unable to conceive and were thus considered “barren” by their…
Read MoreThe Ethics of Artificial Reproductive Technologies
The very probability that we may be faced with a human person in the full sense constitutes, in my opinion, an absolute veto against any type of [in‑vitro] experimentation. ― Father Bernard Häring.1 Introduction Assisted reproductive technology is one of the most complex moral fields debated today. It is actually an aggregation of several…
Read MoreThe Early History of Assisted Reproduction
Senator Brian Harradine: “How often has in‑vitro fertilization been undertaken on non‑human higher primates?” Professor William Short: “It has not been undertaken on gorillas because gorillas are an endangered species.” Senator Brian Harradine: “So you are able to do it on humans?” Professor William Short: “We are not an endangered species.”1 The history of…
Read MoreThe Troubles with Transhumanism
Most transhumanists emphasize only the benefits that their movement would supposedly bring to the human race. Perhaps they omit possible problems because, like all Culture of Death movements, they lack even the most fundamental understanding of human nature. So their primary problem seems to be not dishonesty, but ignorance. #1. Devastating War? Ever since humanity’s…
Read MoreSurrogate Motherhood
In essence, [surrogacy] is the ultimate manifestation of the neoliberal project of capitalist commodification of all life to create profit and fulfill the narcissistic desires of an entitled elite. ~Kathleen Sloan, director of the Connecticut chapter of the National Organization for Women.1 What Is Surrogacy? Surrogate motherhood is the oldest form of assisted reproduction. …
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