Special Feature
Dignitas Infinita, Surrogacy
Dignitas Infinita ("Infinite Dignity") highlights several relevant grave violations of human dignity. This month of November, we focus on surrogacy.
The Catholic Church recognizes and grieves alongside married couples suffering from infertility. Several life-affirming options, such as Natural Procreative Technology, hormone injections, or adoption, are aligned with Church teachings and available for couples seeking to grow their family. However, treatments that separate the marital act from procreation go against the teachings of the faith, such as in-vitro fertilization (IVF). Dignitas Infinita reads, “the child has the right to have a fully human (and not artificially induced) origin and to receive the gift of a life that manifests both the dignity of the giver and that of the receiver.” It is important to note, the Church emphasizes that children conceived by IVF are children of God and should be loved, cherished, and cared for.
Dignitas Infinita adds clarity to Church teachings by standing against the practice of surrogacy, during which a child and mothers are often treated as objects. The Declaration quotes Pope Francis, “I deem deplorable the practice of so-called surrogate motherhood, which represents a grave violation of the dignity of the woman and the child, based on the exploitation of situations of the mother’s material needs. A child is always a gift and never the basis of a commercial contract.” The document continues, “The legitimate desire to have a child cannot be transformed into a ‘right to a child’ that fails to respect the dignity of that child as the recipient of the gift of life.”
The dignity of a woman acting as a surrogate is also violated, whether she enters an agreement freely or through coercion. “For, in this practice, the woman is detached from the child growing in her and becomes a mere means subservient to the arbitrary gain or desire of others. This contrasts in every way with the fundamental dignity of every human being and with each person’s right to be recognized always individually and never as an instrument for another.” (Dignitas Infinita, 50). Read more about the Holy See’s efforts to address the harms of surrogacy here.
Reflection: While the Bible has several accounts of couples overcoming infertility—Sarah and Abraham, Elizabeth and Zechariah—the stories also highlight their hardships and emphasize trust and surrender to the will of God. In what ways do we try to “take matters into our own hands” rather than opening our hands to God and surrendering our worries and fears to the One who works for our good?
For more information on the Church teachings regarding fertility treatments, visit: https://www.usccb.org/topics/natural-family-planning/infertility
To see more reflections on Dignitas Infinita (on Human Dignity) visit: ohiocathconf.org/humandignity
