Madam, – I refer to Fr Iggy O’Donovan’s comments (October 7th) regarding a report on the Pontifical Academy for Life’s negative response to Prof Robert Edwards being awarded the Nobel Prize for Medicine (World News, October 6th).
Prof Edwards is the inventor of in vitro fertilisation (IVF). IVF is opposed to church teaching for at least three reasons. First, IVF routinely involves the abortion of so-called “weaker” embryos. Second, IVF raises serious ethical questions concerning the treatment of so-called “spare” embryo persons. Third, IVF removes procreation from its natural place in the context of loving marital intercourse because the natural conjugal act is replaced by the unnatural use of technology.
Fr O’Donovan’s appalling comment regarding St Joseph and the Blessed Virgin Mary are what compelled me to write this letter. Fr O’Donovan “wonders what St Joseph and Mary would make of this controversy”, referring of course to the church’s teaching that IVF is intrinsically evil. The implication is that St Joseph and our Lady would obviously condone IVF in opposition to the church since Mary did not conceive our Lord as the result of sexual intercourse. To compare the Annunciation and the Incarnation to IVF is quite frankly gravely sacrilegious! Our Lady conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit; it was an act of God following Mary’s “yes” not only to temporal life but ultimately to humanity’s sharing of God’s own divine life. Accordingly, Mary conceived Jesus supernaturally. This in no way resembles IVF which acts against God and is therefore always unnatural and sinful.
Perhaps instead of meditating on such irreverent thoughts, Fr O’Donovan might better use his free time learning about NaPro Technology which is morally acceptable and an even more effective help than IVF for couples struggling to conceive. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – Fr Eamonn McCarthy asks whether there could be a Nobel Prize winner among the frozen embryos created via IVF. Statistically there is far more likely a much larger number of murderers, rapists and so on. His argument is of course, just as specious as mine.
If someone has a genuine, reasoned and considered position on IVF, then by all means air it. But remember that one’s own ideas about the existence of a God, a healthier and morally acceptable means of assisted conception and so on are subjective and may not tally with other people’s.
Although my own profession does not preclude me from having children, I think I might personally exercise a little caution when advising others how to have theirs. – Yours, etc,