At last weekend’s Masses, the Church had us reflect on a scripture passage about King Saul falling into the hands of David (1 Sam 26:2-23). Saul had been making David’s life miserable for years, trying to kill him out of envy. Suddenly, David has a golden opportunity to put an end to his ordeal by killing Saul, whom he finds defenseless before him. Though he must have been sorely tempted, David wouldn’t do it, for it was forbidden for any man to lay a hand on the King of Israel. He resists the temptation because to kill Saul would have been gravely immoral.
The story teaches us that just because you can do something doesn’t mean you should do something – even if you really want to. It’s an important lesson, especially in the fields of science and technology, which have given us power to overcome things that have plagued human beings since time immemorial. Innovations like fertilizer, irrigation systems, and pesticides have allowed us to grow enough food such that no one need starve. Antibiotics and vaccines have made it possible to overcome once deadly infections and diseases. These are instances where humanity’s ancient enemies have fallen into our hands and technology has enabled us to vanquish them. But what about when it comes to the creation of new life? Recently, the president signed an executive order that would promote government policies expanding access to In Vitro Fertilization (IVF). At first glance, IVF seems to be another instance where an enemy has fallen into our hands. Infertility is a very heavy cross for a growing number of people, and its cause remains a mystery. IVF is held out as a “pro-family” solution. But this is an instance in which we must stop and consider whether this thing that can be done should be done.
For good reasons, the Church has forever taught that intentionally separating the sexual act from procreation is always immoral. This applies to things like contraception (Catechism, 2370), but also IVF (Catechism, 2376-77). Now, the desire to have children and raise a family is a very good one, so it’s perfectly understandable that a couple struggling with infertility might see IVF as a solution. But good ends cannot justify bad means. Fertility clinics offer conception services like IVF to people anxious to have children. But, even without realizing it, this reduces children to a commodity. Moreover, once produced, human embryos are often selected for desirable traits, while “defective” and “excess” human embryos are either discarded, used for research, or kept indefinitely in suspended animation. Some estimate that there are currently 1 million frozen human embryos stored in fertility clinics across the country.
That being said, the Church also teaches that the circumstances of a child’s conception has no bearing on his/her inherent dignity as a creature made in God’s image. Thus, children conceived through IVF must be loved and cherished no less than children conceived through intercourse. Unfortunately, most people are unaware of the Church’s teaching and probably never considered that IVF could be anything but obviously good. For those who have undergone such treatments, I would gently encourage you to consider bringing it to confession, while also giving thanks to God for the gift of your children. We also should insist that more resources be spent on things like NaPro technology, which focus on treating the underlying causes of infertility as a way of promoting health, instead of technologies that further enrich the pharmaceutical and fertility industries.
Finally, I know that these are very personal, sensitive, and confusing issues that affect a lot of people. Please know that I am available to discuss them further if you or someone you know has questions.
posted 3/1/25
The Parish of St. Cecilia-St. Gabriel 