The Roman Catholic Church clearly regards in vitro fertilization (IVF) and related techniques of artificial procreation as immoral because these practices are contrary to the unity of marriage and the dignity of spouses (Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith [CDF]), 1987, Donum Vitae). The Church’s teaching, however, does not rule out as intrinsically wrong the possibility of heterologous embryo transfer for the purpose of adoption (Pontifical Academy for Life [PAL], 2004). We address the question of the appropriate Roman Catholic moral position on this subject through textual analysis of relevant Church documents. We also respond to certain critiques of embryo adoption, particularly with respect to questions of whether this practice violates the exclusivity of a woman’s marital bond, involves illicit cooperation with the “evil” of IVF, or is a source of scandal.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Althaus, C. (2005). ‘Can one “Rescue” a human embryo? The moral object of the acting woman,’ National Catholic Bioethics Quarterly, 5, 113–141.
Berkman, J.R. (2003). ‘Gestating the embryos of others: Surrogacy? Adoption? Rescue?’ National Catholic Bioethics Quarterly, 3, 309–329.
Cataldo, P.J. (2001). ‘Three notes from our readers,’ Ethics & Medics, 26, 3–4.
Cataldo, P.J. (2002). ‘A cooperation analysis of embryonic stem cell research,’ National Catholic Bioethics Quarterly, 2, 35–41.
Chandlish, J. (1968). ‘St. Thomas and the dynamic state of body constituents,’ Journal of the History of Medicine and Applied Sciences, 23, 272–275.
Code of Canon Law (1983). Canon 1055, §1 [Online]. Available: http://www.intratext.com/ IXT/ ENG0017/_P3U.HTM.
Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) (February 22, 1987). Donum Vitae. (Instruction on respect for human life in its origin and on the dignity of procreation: Replies to certain questions of the day) [Online]. Available: http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/ cfaith/doc_doc_index.htm.
Eberl, J.T. (2005). ‘Aquinas’s Account of Human Embryogenesis and Recent Interpretations,’ Journal of Medicine and Philosophy, 30/4, 379–394.
Eberl, J.T. (2006). Thomistic Principles and Bioethics. New York: Routledge.
Grisez, G.G. (1997). Way of the Lord Jesus, Vol. 3: Difficult Moral Questions. Quincy, IL: Franciscan Press.
Iozzio, M.J. (2002). ‘Moral analysis: It is time to support embryo adoption,’ National Catholic Bioethics Quarterly, 2, 585–596.
Kant, I. (1997). Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals. M. Gregor (Ed.). New York: Cambridge University Press.
Keenan, J.F. (1989). ‘Prophylactics, toleration, and cooperation,’ International Philosophical Quarterly, 29, 205–220.
May, W.E. (2005). ‘On “rescuing” frozen embryos: Why the decision to do so is moral,’ National Catholic Biocthics Quarterly, 5, 51–57.
Pontifical Academy for Life (February 21, 2004). Final Communiqué on “The Dignity of Human Procreation and Reproductive Technologies: Anthropological and Ethical Aspects [Online]. Available: http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_academies/acdlife/index.htm.
Onder, R.F. (2005). ‘Practical and moral caveats on heterologous embryo transfer,’ National Catholic Bioethics Quarterly, 5, 75–94.
St. Thomas Aquinas (1882a). ‘Summa Theologiae,’ in Commissio Leonina (Ed.), S. Thomae Aquinatis Doctoris Angelici Opera Omnia, Vols. 4–12. Rome: Vatican Polyglot.
St. Thomas Aquinas (1882b). ‘Summa Contra Gentiles,’ in Commissio Leonina (Ed.), S. Thomae Aquinatis Doctoris Angelici Opera Omnia, Vols. 13–15. Rome: Vatican Polyglot.
St. Thomas Aquinas (1948). ‘Summa theologiae,’ Fathers of the English Dominican Province (Trans.) New York: Benziger.
St. Thomas Aquinas (1953). ‘Commentarium super epistolam ad Romanos,’ in R. Cai (Ed.), S. Thomae Aquinatis Super Epistolas S. Pauli Lectura, Vol.1. Turin: Marietti, pp. 5–230.
Surtees, G. (1996). ‘Adoption of a frozen embryo,’ Homiletic and Pastoral Review, 96, 7–16.
Tonti-Filippini, N. (2003). ‘The embryo rescue debate: Impregnating women, ectogenesis, and restoration from suspended animation,’ National Catholic Bioethics Quarterly, 3, 111–137.
Watt, H. (1999). Cooperation Problems in Biomedical Research [Online]. Available: http://www.linacre.org/coop.html.
Watt, H. (2001). ‘A brief defense of embryo adoption,’ National Catholic Bioethics Quarterly, 1, 151–154.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2007 Springer Science + Business Media B.V
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Brown, B.P., Eberl, J.T. (2007). Ethical Considerations in Defense of Embryo Adoption. In: Brakman, SV., Weaver, D.F. (eds) The Ethics of Embryo Adoption and the Catholic Tradition. Philosophy and Medicine, vol 95. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-6211-7_6
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-6211-7_6
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-1-4020-6210-0
Online ISBN: 978-1-4020-6211-7
eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)