Question

what does he say about the claim that IVF saparates the procreative and conjugal aspects of marriage? that IVF is illicit because it involves masturbation.

Answer 1

IVF separates the procreative and conjugal aspect of marriage that IVF is illicit because it involves masturbation .It means IVF has achieved a biological and emotional separation between sex and reproduction .So what is important about IVF is not that it brings about a complete separation of reproduction from sex but that is open up new possibilities for reproduction without sex.The benefit that IVF has brought is that many couples who could not otherwise have had children are now able to do so and anyone familiar with sadness and disappointment that accompanies the failure to have children should acknowledge that this has been a great advance in social welfare.Technique involving only the married couple (homologous artificial insemination and fertilization) are perhaps less reprehensible yet remain morally unacceptable.They dissociate the sexual act from the procreative act.The act which brings the child into existence is no longer an act by which two people give themselves to one another but one that entrusts the life and identify of the embryo into the power of doctors and biologists and establishes the domination of technology over the origin and destiny of human person.Such a relationship of domination is in itself contrary to dignity and equality that must be common to parents and children.Under the moral aspect procreation is deprived of it's proper perfection when it is not willed as a fruit of conjugal act that is to say of the specific act of spouses union .Only respect for the link between the meanings of conjugal act and respect for unity of human being much possible procreation in conformity with the dignity of the person.In this way reproduction without sex(IVF) has helped to mitigate one consequence of sex without reproduction.