Dear Catholic Exchange:
Are IVF and IUI infertility treatments accepted by the Catholic Church? Which treatments are not accepted, if any are?
Patrick
Dear Patrick,
Peace in Christ!
If they help married couples realize the basic goods involved in marriage, the Church favors technological interventions. The Church opposes technological interventions that violate the natural law regarding the intrinsic good and natural rights of the human person. In this regard, the Church protects human life and the procreative and unitive aspects of sexual acts within marriage. The following are morally wrong: in vitro fertilization and the discarding of embryos in in vitro fertilization, non-therapeutic experimentation or manipulation on embryos, artificial insemination (including intrauterine insemination (IUI), whether by donor or by husband) and human cloning. The Church has not pronounced on the procedures called GIFT and TOTS.
For further explanation please see our Faith Fact: Reproductive Technologies
United in the Faith,
Eric Stoutz
Information Specialist
Catholics United for the Faith
827 North Fourth Street
Steubenville, OH 43952
800-MY-FAITH (800-693-2484)
