So many questions...

My original and relatively simple plan for Thursday evening was to study "Baptism". This intention held good until I attended the guest-lecture at Holy Spirit College.

 

The lecture addressed the bio ethical issues raised by in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and (whether or not one entirely agreed with all of the lecturer's points) the lecture provided much food for thought regarding the complex theological and ethical issues raised by IVF.

 

And then we came to the Q&A. The first question was from the Grandmother of fertilized eggs in cryogenic storage and her heart-felt query was whether the teachings of the Church permit the adoption of the eggs resulting in their birth. To the surprise of many present (including myself) the lecturer (while indicating that the Church has not formally spoken on this exact question) suggested that based on his detailed knowledge of Church teachings this is not and never will be permissable as the thawing of the eggs would lead to the "death" of some of them (perhaps 50%) and that their gestation in an adoptive mother would be immoral as was their fertilization.

 

Dealing with follow-up questions the lecturer stated that the principle of double effect does not apply even if part of the intent was to Baptize and carry to term all of the eggs and therefore all of the eggs should be left frozen for 500 or 1,000 years or whatever term was necessary in order that it can be ensured that they are (in his words) "freezer burnt" so that there is no chance of them being alive upon thawing.

 

This one question led to many more for me based upon the fact that the teaching of the Church is that life came into being at the moment that the eggs were fertilized and that all human life demands equal respect regardless of its placement on the chronological continuum from conception to old age:

 

• Are the frozen eggs "alive" once they have been frozen?
• Would we regard a child or adult that has been frozen and has no "life signs" (including brain activity) as alive or dead?
• Should we try and resuscitate a person if there is only a 50% chance of success in each individual case? (The answer to this question appears straightforward to me but contradicts the lecturer's stance)
• When does the soul leave the body?
• If the eggs are "alive", is it morally acceptable to leave them frozen until "freezer burnt" thus denying them the natural life that God intends for us?

 

I am going to research the Church's teaching in these areas and will post the results; in the meantime, if you have any good references or would like to share your thoughts then please e-mail me!