For Adam and I, tomorrow begins another IVF cycle. This morning (while he's still asleep), I was doing some spiritual reading and trying to educate myself a little more about God, his will, and our place in life. I often use my quiet Sunday mornings for this, and find that it sets the tone for a nice week...sometimes more than attending church.
Because Adam is Catholic (though certainly not "practicing"), I really wanted to educate myself more on the Catholic stance of IVF. I knew the Catholic church was "against it"... but I wanted to know why and what scripture they used to support their stance. So...thus my study today.
Needless to say, there is not a concise answer. But...to be a brief as possible, there are two major issues/points that were published in the Catholic doctrines in 1987.
1. The Catholic church believes that babies should be created through relations between a man and a woman...period.
2. The Catholic church believes that souls are created at the time of fertilization, thus embryos have souls. Therefore, discarding embryos is considered abortion and thawing embryos that don't survive is in essence, the same.
Wow... Obviously this opens a HUGE can of worms! Rather than go on and on about my issues with this doctrine, I wondered where in the Bible these issues were addressed. As you might expect (since there wasn't anything even close to IVF in those days), they are not!
But here's one verse I did find...
Psalm 113:9 He gives the baren woman a home, making her a joyous mother of children. Praise the Lord!
While looking a little bit further, I found this...written by someone named Carol. It pretty much sums up my readings and thoughts this morning. For those who haven't crossed these bridges, it will enlighten you. For those who have, hopefully it was inspire you!
I am a religious person and my faith in what God means when he gives people certain challenges has kept me going through this ordeal. What do I think God meant when he gave me infertility? I think he meant for my husband and I to grow closer, love deeper. I think God meant for us to find the fortitude within ourselves to get up everytime infertility knocks us down. I think God meant for our medical community to discover medicines, invent medical equipment, create procedures and protocols. I think God meant for us to find a cure for infertility. No. God never meant for me to not have children. That's not my destiny, that's just a fork in the road I'm on.
I've been placed on the road less traveled and like it or not, I'm a better person for it. Clearly, God meant for me to overcome my devastation, guilt and sorrow in order to develop more compassion, deeper courage, and greater inner strength on this journey to resolution and I haven't let him down. Frankly, if the truth be known, I think God meant for me to build a thirst for a child so strong and so deep that when that baby is finally placed in my arms it will be the longest, coolest, and most refreshing drink I've ever known.
Because Adam is Catholic (though certainly not "practicing"), I really wanted to educate myself more on the Catholic stance of IVF. I knew the Catholic church was "against it"... but I wanted to know why and what scripture they used to support their stance. So...thus my study today.
Needless to say, there is not a concise answer. But...to be a brief as possible, there are two major issues/points that were published in the Catholic doctrines in 1987.
1. The Catholic church believes that babies should be created through relations between a man and a woman...period.
2. The Catholic church believes that souls are created at the time of fertilization, thus embryos have souls. Therefore, discarding embryos is considered abortion and thawing embryos that don't survive is in essence, the same.
Wow... Obviously this opens a HUGE can of worms! Rather than go on and on about my issues with this doctrine, I wondered where in the Bible these issues were addressed. As you might expect (since there wasn't anything even close to IVF in those days), they are not!
But here's one verse I did find...
Psalm 113:9 He gives the baren woman a home, making her a joyous mother of children. Praise the Lord!
While looking a little bit further, I found this...written by someone named Carol. It pretty much sums up my readings and thoughts this morning. For those who haven't crossed these bridges, it will enlighten you. For those who have, hopefully it was inspire you!
I am a religious person and my faith in what God means when he gives people certain challenges has kept me going through this ordeal. What do I think God meant when he gave me infertility? I think he meant for my husband and I to grow closer, love deeper. I think God meant for us to find the fortitude within ourselves to get up everytime infertility knocks us down. I think God meant for our medical community to discover medicines, invent medical equipment, create procedures and protocols. I think God meant for us to find a cure for infertility. No. God never meant for me to not have children. That's not my destiny, that's just a fork in the road I'm on.
I've been placed on the road less traveled and like it or not, I'm a better person for it. Clearly, God meant for me to overcome my devastation, guilt and sorrow in order to develop more compassion, deeper courage, and greater inner strength on this journey to resolution and I haven't let him down. Frankly, if the truth be known, I think God meant for me to build a thirst for a child so strong and so deep that when that baby is finally placed in my arms it will be the longest, coolest, and most refreshing drink I've ever known.
Happy Sunday everyone!!! God Bless You!
7 comments:
Jeremiah 29:11
If it weren't for loosing my first pregnancy, I would never have appreciated my two babies, loved them as strongly, or felt for certain that they are true miracles. I'm sure you will be the same way. There are no mountains without valleys.
Lese
Beautifully thought out and written. Blessings.
Love ya,
Jenn
I like that you are starting your cycle on the 10th Anniversary of September 11th - a day that made so many of us evaluate what was REALLY important in life.
I also appreciate you sharing your research about the Catholic church and their position on IVF.
My DH and I are going through a similar quandry right now. He grew up in a religious Catholic household and I grew up in a non-practicing Jewish household. This year, we have both started to embrace our religions. He started attending church on a regular basis and I joined a synagogue and we are both attending an Intro to Judaism class.
At first, I agreed to raise our kids Catholic, but that was when we both asumed we could conceive "the old fashioned way."
Today, I struggle with raising my kids in a religion that is morally opposed to their very existence and being.
I know. I NEVER considered becoming Catholic, even when Adam and I married. Thankfully, Adam never expected me to and he understands my reasons.
It's too bad that non-married man is who the whole Catholic religion seeks for guidence...like he would know!
Anyway, it was good to learn the facts. I don't think God will love our children any less because we couldn't conceive them "naturally." That's the great news!
Thank you for sharing, praying for y'all
I can't thank you enough for posting this! I have struggles four years with infertilty and am catholic. Although I have taken the medical route it has weighed heavy on my conscious. Not anymore!!!
So well written. Every child is a miracle ........... some , like my son , just have a harder and longer path to come to us : ) My miracle is now 17 years old ! Thinking & praying for you ,
Beth Ingram Webb
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