Donation Of Ovum

[LivinTabernacle]

i was having a theological discussion at the Baptist Union at college and a girl brought up an interesting point. She was born without ovaries, so is artificial insemination a sin? on one hand there is the principle of the double effect and the story of abram and his wife in Gen. 30:1-4 but on the other the Catechism in paragraph 2376 says that a conception using a 3rd person is "gravely immoral". what do i say to her?is there more biblical reference to help?

[Pio Nono]

JMJ
8/17 - Twentieth Tuesday

LivinTabernacle,

I am sorry to hear of this girl's condition; it must be painful to want children but be unable to conceive.

Since a "third-party" conception in Biblical times involved a concubine (Abraham & Hagar) due to lack of technology, there is no Biblical precedent. However, ethics is a philosophical science, which means that we can arrive at its conclusions without the aid of revelation.

To donate or receive a donated ovum is always and everywhere gravely immoral - the gravity of the sin can be reduced or enhanced, though, due to the guidelines necessary for a moral sin. All that Holy Mother Church says is that this situation fulfills the "grave matter" column automatically; whether it fits the other two (full deliberation and willful intent) remains dependant on the individual.

The reason that it is wrong is that it treats people like cattle - cows are artificially inseminated, not human beings. The human person is built in such a way that conception is proper to sexual intercourse alone and to no other means. To conceive by other means is to belittle the dignity of the person.

Remember, though, that Holy Mother Church recognizes that people don't often turn to this means of conception except as a last resort. Gently, though, she reminds them that God may not be calling them to have children. I hope this helps.

Yours,
Pio Nono