Does the Catholic Faith Permit the Use of Artificial Wombs?

Last updated on: June 2, 2017 at 1:28 pm by Jennifer Fitz

Does the Catholic Faith Permit the Use of Artificial Wombs? 2017-06-02T13:28:58-05:00 Jennifer Fitz

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

If Brave New World is coming soon to a hospital near you, what does that mean for your premature baby? Over the Register, today I’m making predictions about what the next edition of The Catechism will have to say about “artificial womb” technology:

Here at the Register, Angelo Stagnaro has recently expressed his grave concerns about the invention of “artificial wombs.” The technology in question is a medical device that simulates an unborn baby’s environment in utero. It is designed as an improvement over the existing standard of care for infants born prematurely; it is not envisaged as a substitute for a healthy pregnancy.

We can, however, foresee that as the technology develops, it will be used at earlier and earlier stages, until finally, Brave New World style, in vitro fertilization followed by artificial gestation allows the possibility of children conceived and born without ever experiencing any maternal contact beyond that one donated egg cell.

In light of that possibility, what will the next edition of The Catechism likely have to say about the use of artificial wombs?

Longtime readers will recognize the shadowy hand of double effect behind my reasoning. Question #1 we ask ourselves when looking at a new technology: Is there anything inherently immoral in this, when properly used?

If so, it’s right out. If not, we’ve got a yellow light. Reproductive technology is tricky, because we’ve got a higher bar than applies to other bodily functions, what with a brand new immortal soul being involved.

If we make it past no-way-no-how, next question is: Under what circumstances is this properly used?

And from there, we can use our working knowledge of the current Catechism and the magisterial social teaching of the Church to place some safe bets on what’s coming.

The DIY Kit for Junior Moral Theologians

For those who haven’t already had the course on ends-and-means-and-side-effects, it’s not at the Register so you’ll need to look here (or somewhere):

Do the Ends Justify the Means? My 101 on Double Effect and whether you may do evil that good come of it (no, you may not).

Double Effect, In the Bathtub Erin Arlinghaus continues the conversation.

Why Can’t We Do Evil that Good Might Come of It? Even to Save a Life? Further conversation on this topic, in response to a challenge from Erin.

The Trouble with Double Effect An older post over at the Conspiracy, covering this topic, and opening up a can of worms at the bottom.

Siris: Double Effect Comments on that post from philosopher Brandon Watson, who knows his business, attempting to deal with the worms.

I Confess, Hero Movie Par Excellence Alfred Hitchcock shows you how it’s done, in glorious black and white.

Three Bad Arguments You Should Stop Using Right Now Reasons people tend to jettison their rational brain just when they shouldn’t.

Photo: Fritz Henle [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Previous Post

May 31, 2017

Catholic? Like to Write? There's a Conference for That

Next Post

June 20, 2017 Pain Bleg Update --> How's It Going, Jen?

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Books Catechesis Catholic Q&A Chastity Church Craziness Come See Me Talk Disability & Chronic Illness Economics Evangelization Facepalm Forgiveness Good Things History Homeschooling Human Rights It's All Catholic Listen to Me Survey Series Liturgical Living Marriage Modesty Not Satire. But almost. Rant-o-Rama Sacred Art & Music Satire South Carolina Spark Clutter Stick that Corner Suffering Thinking Topics Writing Stuff

Select a Month September 2026 July 2026 June 2026 January 2026 December 2025 September 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 November 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 May 2019 April 2019 February 2019 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

How many minor prophets are in the Old Testament?

Select your answer to see how you score.

14 16 10 12