|
There are
three issues involved here.
1. Issues about fertility
treatment in general
2. IVF
3. AI
1. Issues
about fertility treatment in general
For some Christians
all forms of fertility treatment are to be encouraged. New life comes
from God so anything that promotes new life must be right.
Other Christians believe
that only God should choose whether people have babies or remain childless.
Children should only be produced as a result of sexual intercourse.
This is backed up by biblical evidence
Genesis 1:28 God tells Adam and Eve to be fruitful and multiply.
Gen 30:1-2 Rachel, Jacob’s wife, remains barren until God opens
her womb.
1Samuel 1 Hannah is unable to have children until God responds to her
prayer.
Luke 1:5-7 Elizabeth remains barren until she is old – mother of
John the Baptist.
2. IVF
This is where the egg and sperm are brought together outside the woman’s
body.
Side issue is that spare embryos have to be produced and are fertilized
to maximize the chances of a successful pregnancy.
Problem
What happens to the spare embryos?
Sometimes they are thrown away.
Sometimes they are frozen for later use.
Sometimes they are used for medical research.
Roman Catholics
Object to the spare embryos – they are all life-forms.
Disposal, storing and research with these embryos are all unacceptable
to this church.
Methodists
Think that it is right for scientists to use these spare embryos to learn
more about infertility. But they should not be used after14 days have
elapsed since fertilization.
3. AI
Some Christians feel that it is important because people who would not
normally be able to conceive are able to do so.
AI can be given to an unmarried woman or to a woman in a lesbian relationship.
Problem
In general - some Christians would disapprove of a same-sex couple having
a child.
The issue of AIH and AID
AIH is where the donor is the woman’s husband.
AID is where a third party donor s used.
Roman Catholics
Feel that donation by a husband is permissible – AIH
But AID is wrong because it introduces a third person into the marriage
relationship and the station is then adulterous.
|