Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

To: NYer

But what is technically possible is not for that very reason morally admissible

I have a problem with this. I am totally against abortion, but whenever the Vatican says things like this I can’t help but recall the previous Pope’s artificial hip and heart valve. Just why are medical advances that help a Pope OK but not medical advances to avoid pregnancies altogether, or help infertile couple have children? This seems to incongruous to me.


154 posted on 05/08/2007 1:13:04 PM PDT by hardworking (The biggest problem we have is the lack of term limits in the U.S. Senate.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies ]


To: hardworking; redgirlinabluestate; Scotswife
Just why are medical advances that help a Pope OK but not medical advances to avoid pregnancies altogether, or help infertile couple have children? This seems to incongruous to me.

You're comparing apples with oranges. A heart valve or hip replacement has nothing to do with progeneration of life. Now take a close look at the post immediately following yours on this thread. This is a good example of what the Magisterium is referring to by the dangers of new technology that allows procreation apart from sexual relations.


I have a friend who implanted 4 embryos and 3 took. Her husband demanded that they go with "reduction." She held her ground and refused. She is now the proud mother of two boys and one girl --- all perfect and beautiful children. I often look at them and then scowl at her husband wondering which beautiful child would not be here if he had won.

Now they fight over the disposition of the 2 remaining frozen embryos.


As for infertility, I've been there. The world is filled with parentless children and childless couples. Adoption is another way of forming a family. What difference does it make how a child comes into one's life? All children are gifts from God.

And, lastly, if you are not yet familiar with it, I would recommend you look into JPII's Theology of the Body

The 'Theology of the Body' is Pope John Paul II's integrated vision of the human person - body, soul, and spirit. As he explains, the physical human body has a specific meaning and is capable of revealing answers regarding fundamental questions about us and our lives:

All of these questions and many more are answered in Pope John Paul II's 129 Wednesday audiences, which were given between the years 1979 and 1984. His reflections are based on Scripture (especially the Gospels, St. Paul and the Book of Genesis), and contain a vision of the human person truly worthy of man. John Paul II discusses who man was in the beginning, who he is now (after original sin), and who he will be in the age to come. He then applies this message to the vocations of marriage and celibacy, in preparation for the Kingdom of Heaven.

THEOLOGY OF THE BODY

168 posted on 05/08/2007 1:31:29 PM PDT by NYer ("Where the bishop is present, there is the Catholic Church" - Ignatius of Antioch)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 154 | View Replies ]

To: hardworking

The Church isn’t against ivf because it is artificial.
It is against ivf because it separates the unitive from the procreative - much like it is against artificial contraception because it separates the procreative from the unitive.


178 posted on 05/08/2007 1:39:32 PM PDT by Scotswife
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 154 | View Replies ]

To: hardworking

I think an accurate paraphrasing (in context) of this statement would be
“Just because something is technically possible doesn’t mean it is morally admissible”


251 posted on 05/08/2007 4:51:19 PM PDT by 3Lean
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 154 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson