Towards a Theology of Procreation: An Examination of the Vatican Instruction Donum Vitae

Abstract

The Instruction of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith regarding in vitro fertilization and other forms of modern reproductive technology attempted to build on previous Church doctrine, especially on the Encyclical “Humanae Vitae” of Pope Paul VI (1968) and the Congregation's own Declaration on Abortion (1974). It is argued that it misunderstands and misrepresents both documents, and that a better case can be made for the Congregation's position than it makes itself. In brief, the main case against IVF is based, not on its treatment of the embryo or the future child, but on its failure to respect the dignity of the parents as procreators.