{"id":5120,"date":"2017-06-02T13:28:58","date_gmt":"2017-06-02T18:28:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/admin.patheos.com\/blogs\/jenniferfitz\/?p=5120"},"modified":"2017-06-02T13:28:58","modified_gmt":"2017-06-02T18:28:58","slug":"catholic-faith-permit-use-artificial-wombs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/jenniferfitz\/2017\/06\/catholic-faith-permit-use-artificial-wombs\/","title":{"rendered":"Does the Catholic Faith Permit the Use of Artificial Wombs?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

If\u00a0Brave New World<\/em> is coming soon to a hospital near you, what does that mean for your premature baby? Over the Register, today I\u2019m making predictions about what the next edition of\u00a0The Catechism<\/em> will have to say about \u201cartificial womb\u201d<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0technology:<\/p>\n

Here at the Register, <\/em>Angelo Stagnaro has recently expressed his grave concerns about the invention of \u201cartificial wombs.\u201d<\/a> The technology in question is a medical device that simulates an unborn baby\u2019s environment in utero<\/em><\/a>.\u00a0<\/em>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.<\/p>\n

We can, however, foresee that as the technology develops, it will be used at earlier and earlier stages, until finally, Brave New World<\/em> 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.<\/p>\n

In light of that possibility, what will the next edition of The\u00a0<\/em>Catechism<\/em> likely have to say about the use of artificial wombs?<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Longtime readers will recognize the shadowy hand of double effect behind my reasoning. \u00a0Question #1 we ask ourselves when looking at a new technology: Is there anything inherently immoral in this, when properly used?<\/strong><\/p>\n

If so, it\u2019s right out. \u00a0If not, we\u2019ve got a yellow light. \u00a0Reproductive technology is tricky, because we\u2019ve got a higher bar than applies to other bodily functions, what with a brand new immortal soul being involved.<\/p>\n

If we make it past no-way-no-how, next question is: Under what circumstances is this properly used?<\/strong><\/p>\n

And from there, we can use our working knowledge of the current Catechism<\/a> and the\u00a0magisterial social teaching of the Church<\/a> to place some safe bets on what\u2019s coming.<\/p>\n

The DIY Kit for Junior Moral Theologians<\/h3>\n

For those who haven\u2019t already had the course on ends-and-means-and-side-effects, it\u2019s not at the Register<\/em> so you\u2019ll need to look here (or somewhere):<\/p>\n

Do the Ends Justify the Means?<\/a>\u00a0My 101 on Double Effect and whether you may do evil that good come of it (no, you may not).<\/p>\n

Double Effect, In the Bathtub<\/a> Erin Arlinghaus continues the conversation.<\/p>\n

Why Can\u2019t We Do Evil that Good Might Come of It? Even to Save a Life?<\/a>\u00a0Further conversation on this topic, in response to a challenge from Erin.<\/p>\n

The Trouble with Double Effect<\/a>\u00a0An older post over at the Conspiracy, covering this topic, and opening up a can of worms at the bottom.<\/p>\n

Siris: Double Effect<\/a>\u00a0Comments on that post from philosopher Brandon Watson, who knows his business, attempting to deal with the worms.<\/p>\n

I Confess, Hero Movie Par Excellence<\/a>\u00a0 Alfred Hitchcock shows you how it\u2019s done, in glorious black and white.<\/p>\n

Three Bad Arguments You Should Stop Using Right Now<\/a>\u00a0Reasons people tend to jettison their rational brain just when they shouldn\u2019t.<\/p>\n

\"File:Care<\/p>\n

Photo: Fritz Henle [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

If\u00a0Brave New World is coming soon to a hospital near you, what does that mean for your premature baby? Over the Register, today I\u2019m making predictions about what the next edition of\u00a0The Catechism will have to say about \u201cartificial womb\u201d\u00a0technology: Here at the Register, Angelo Stagnaro has recently expressed his grave concerns about the invention […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1209,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[97,13,162,216,29,466],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5120","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-catechesis-2","category-catholic-qa","category-human-rights","category-its-all-catholic","category-suffering","category-thinking-topics"],"yoast_head":"\nDoes the Catholic Faith Permit the Use of Artificial Wombs?<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"If\u00a0Brave New World is coming soon to a hospital near you, what does that mean for your premature baby? 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