Religious Perspectives on Assisted Reproductive Technology in Poland

Religious Perspectives on Assisted Reproductive Technology in Poland Presented by: Prof. Dr. Bielecki Date: April 14, 2025 Catholic Church - The teaching of the Catholic Church consistently emphasizes its negative position towards assisted procreation methods - On 22 February 1987, the Congregation of the Doctrine of Faith issued an Instruction on Respect for Human Life in Its Origin and the Dignity of Procreation. - It states, among others, that the human being must be respected - as a person - from the first moment of his or her existence and therefore, from that very moment, he or she must be granted the rights of a person, and among these - the most important - the inviolable right of every human being to life. Orthodox Church - Today, the Orthodox Church is facing the challenges associated with the development of assisted reproductive technologies. Official Orthodox documents emphasize that the decision to use assisted procreation should take into account both doctrinal teaching and the existential situation of the married couple concerned. However, heterologous insemination is not permissible - According to the teaching of the Orthodox Church, in vitro fertilization is morally unacceptable if unused embryos are destroyed in it. However, in a situation where no embryos are destroyed, it is permissible with the approval of both spouses. - Since almost every embryo has the potential to develop and is a human being, it should not be subjected to any medical procedures that would put its health or life in any danger. Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession - The Evangelical Augsburg Church in Poland expressed its support for the in vitro method in 2009, issuing an official statement on its admissibility. - The document emphasizes that the Evangelical Church has not developed a unified position in this regard. Polish Lutherans are in favor of accepting the use of the in vitro method as a way of treating infertility, while firmly emphasizing their opposition to the creation and storage of frozen embryos without the clear purpose of later implantation into the mother's body. - The Evangelical Augsburg Church in the Republic of Poland accepts the use of the method of artificial insemination - interpreting it as a form of family support. - The use of the method of homologous artificial insemination, i.e. when the sperm comes from the legal father, was considered morally permissible. No approval was expressed for the use of external gametes as well as for the use of surrogate mothers. Judaism - According to Judaism, having children is a mitzvah (an obligation and a commandment based on the recommendations of the Torah) -therefore, in the case of people who are unable to have children, medical assisted procreation is even desirable and recommended. - The only act against Judaism is to use sperm from a man other than the husband for conception, as this is equivalent to infidelity. Only in occasional situations and with the approval of a rabbi, the use sperm from a donor can be allowed. - Islam, in the case of spousal infertility, permits the use of artificial in vitro fertilization but only on condition that fertilization of the husband's and wife's reproductive cells takes place. At the same time, Islam does not allow the use of various forms of heterologous fertilization, including the transfer of an embryo fertilized with the cells of husband and wife into the body of a surrogate. - Genetic modification procedures are permitted in Islam if they are used to correct damages to the genetic code caused by accident or disease in order to relieve human suffering. Any branch of science which is pressed into the service of His creation and employed to protect, rather than change it, is certainly not discouraged. Summary - In conclusion, it should be noted that the churches and religious associations existing in the Republic of Poland have different positions on the issues of Assisted Reproductive Technology. - The most conservative approach can be seen in the doctrine of the Catholic Church, which excludes any form of interference in the natural transmission of life. - In the light of the teaching of the Catholic Church, new medical techniques should respect three fundamental goods: • (a) the right to life and to the physical integrity of every human being from conception until natural death; • b) the unity of marriage, entailing mutual respect for the right of the spouses to become father and mother only naturally and through each other; • (c) the specific human sexual values, which require that "the procreation of a human person to be brought about as the fruit of the conjugal act specific to the love between spouses"