Q. Why is in vitro fertilization wrong in the Catholic Tradition?
A. Thank you for this question. In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a complex series of procedures used to help with fertility and/or assist with the conception of a child.
During IVF, mature eggs are collected (retrieved) from a woman’s ovaries and fertilized by man’s sperm in a lab. Then the fertilized egg (embryo) is transferred to a woman’s uterus.
Simply put, this process usually takes place in a petri dish in a laboratory setting. Jesus taught—and the Catholic Church continues to teach—that marriage is a sacred institution between one man and one woman based on two pillars: unity and procreation. That is, marriage is for 1.) The mutual love and respect of a man and a woman as equals and 2.) For the procreation and educating and forming of children as disciples of Jesus Christ. Jesus said a lot about marriage that has been captured in Scripture. Some of the most relevant passages to this topic include Genesis 2:24, Hebrews 13:4, Matthew 19:2-9, Mark 10:8-12, Ephesians 5:31, and 1 Corinthians 7:2ff. So sacred are the two pillars of marriage—unity and procreation—that the Church does not admit any exception in the area of in vitro fertilization. The Catechism of the Catholic Church has a very scripturally-based, finely developed, and loving consideration of marriage and the family in paragraphs 1601-1658.
The Church teaches that to remove the sacred act of marital union and place it in a clinical setting does injury to the very definition of marriage. It cannot fulfill the unitive dimension as God intended because the acquisition of sperm and the ovum would require immoral actions. To knowingly and willingly pursue the conception of a child by this method would objectively be a serious sin.
I know of couples for whom infertility is a huge cross because they very much want children. Others might say the Church claims to be pro-life but science, in the medical field, can assist us in conception; therefore, why is in vitro fertilization so wrong?
Again, to accept the nature of marriage on the premise that it is unitive and procreative is absolutely foundational to the understanding of the sacrament. To withdraw the unitive and procreative act between a man or woman and place it in a sterile laboratory setting does injury to the very notion of marriage. Undoubtedly, the inability to conceive a child can bring a great deal of sadness and heartache to a couple. I also know that Jesus asked us to be faithful to Him and to the teachings of His church, Matthew 16:13-27.
An excellent question—a difficult question. Thank you for asking it.
This question was answered by a priest of the Diocese of Lincoln. Write to Ask the Register using our online form, or write to 3700 Sheridan Blvd., Suite 10, Lincoln NE 68506-6100. All questions are subject to editing. Editors decide which questions to publish. Personal questions cannot be answered. People with such questions are urged to take them to their nearest Catholic priest.
