Thankyou,
Tess

I have noticed that the sentence explaining that the “Eastern Orthodox Church, is not as strict as the Roman Catholic Church, allowing the medical or surgical treatment of infertility.” is incorrect, because the Roman Catholic Church acknowledges and praises therapeutic ‘medical or surgical treatment of infertility’. Naturally enough, IVF is NOT considered to be ‘therapeutic’ since apart from the undue risk it places on embryos, it directly replaces the conjugal act.

This is further explained in (Dignitas Personae, 2008) where on an encouraging note of appraisal to science and technology:

“Certainly, techniques aimed at removing obstacles to natural fertilisation, as for example hormonal treatments for infertility, surgery for endometriosis, unblocking of fallopian tubes or their surgical repair, are licit. All these techniques may be considered authentic treatments because, once the problem causing the infertility has been resolved, the married couple is able to engage in conjugal acts resulting in procreation, without the physician’s action directly interfering in that act itself. None of these treatments replace the conjugal act, which alone is worthy of truly responsible procreation.”

Additionally it stresses that

“Research and investment directed at the prevention of sterility deserve encouragement.”

Many thanks,

Dustin