The Catholic Church has introduced a new instruction to the faithful on reproductive rights and technology, the first since 1987. Not much new here. In addition to previously stated dogma, new prohibitions are added against any kind of in vitro fertilization or examination of embryos for any kind of genetic flaw. Also prohibited is any kind of genetic manipulation of embryos, naturally created and implanted or not.
Bottom line is, you get to have unprotected heterosexual sex, within the bonds of Holy Matrimony and whatever issue ensues is yours to keep. That's it. End of story.
I for one applaud this new instruction. This will speed up the schism that already exists within the Catholic Church World wide, concerning reproductive practices and rights. The percentage of Catholics within the age of childbearing, in the developed World, who currently adhere to these strictures is statistically insignificant. This new instruction will help to drive home the realization among them, that the Church exists outside of the reality in which they live their real, everyday lives. Those serious about participating in organized Christianity will have to find or found new churches in which to practice it.
Among those who have the ability, means and opportunity to pursue higher education and professional attainment, marriage, if engaged in at all, is commonly postponed until after the third decade of life. To expect these individuals, who will become the leaders of society in their fields of endeavor to abstain from sex, until they are halfway through their productive span of life, is nearly surreal.
To expect society to shoulder the expense and burden of support for those severely disabled by genetic or congenital defect, for which early prenatal testing is available, is irresponsible.
To deny the value of scientific embryonic research, is indicative of the kind of militant ignorance for which the Catholic Church has been justly famous, since before the excommunication and imprisonment of Galileo.
This instruction makes it impossible for any government, anywhere in the World, to incorporate canon law into civil code and that is exactly the way it should be. People have a right to adhere to whatever reproductive practices they like. Societal enforcement of Roman Catholic reproductive strictures are as wrong as the one child policy of the ChiComs.
Other Christian denominations, no matter how fundamentally conservative or clothed in arcane mummery, have the ability to adapt to the inevitable changes in human society. The Catholic Church is proving, once again, that it does not.
The Catholic Church is not dead but it is dying. So be it.
1 comment:
I really don't understand the Catholic church's policy on birth control. There must be many catholic teenagers who laugh when they are told they can't masturbate or use a condom.
I had an Irish friend [a catholic] who said that the church was a real danger to the young because so many Irish teenagers had unprotected sex, get pregnant, and have to get married in the church, natch. And that that person they were marrying wasn't necessarily the best one for them.
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