Aristotle, a Greek philosopher born in 384 BC, suggested the concept of ‘Natural Law’. This concept was further developed by St. Thomas Aquinas in the 13th century. ‘Natural Law’ is the idea of the best thing to do, given the circumstances, as opposed to Gods Law (the 10 commandments).
Roman Catholics do not believe that unnatural sex is permitted by god. They would not permit the IVF treatment as they believe that to throw away fertilised eggs (which must happen in the process of IVF treatment and Egg donation) is murder because it is the destruction of a soul. They have the same views about abortion for the same reasons as those stated above. They also think that when donors remain anonymous it is a denial of the rights of children and that embryos have human status and should not be used in research.
They would oppose any form of artificial insemination as masturbation is seen as a sin. Roman Catholics would also be against surrogacy for two reasons; it may involve IVF or AI and it is also seen as adultery. In fact the only option they do approve of is adoption. They would see it as a loving and kind act.
The Protestant Church are not as strict as the Roman Catholic Church, they allow IVF and AIH. This is because it is using human intelligence (a gift from God) to be kind and to help other people. They feel great sympathy for couples who want children but can’t naturally have them. They think that since it’s the husband’s sperm and the wife’s egg that it justifiable. They are against all other options because there are complications for the children; confusion about identity could arise.
Christians who are not Roman Catholic do not generally follow the idea of ‘Natural Law’; instead they follow what is more the biblical teaching, especially that of the new testament and Jesus. They do not think that an implanted embryo is a human life, but to be more precise they think that it has the potential to become life. This means they think that the use of embryos for research within the first few days of their existence is acceptable and that the methods IVF and AIH are in fact okay.
Different religions around the world have very different views about this subject.
Muslims believe, like the Roman Catholics, that life is sacred and a precious commodity, which was given by God, but unlike the Roman Catholics, they think that a foetus does not have human status. They also believe that all children should be born to married couples, making most forms of sperm/egg/embryo donation adultery and a very serious crime. Muslims also think that a child should know both of its natural parents and think that, when a child is born to a surrogate mother, it legally belongs to the surrogate mother. Muslims do not accept AID, Egg Donation or Surrogacy.
However most Muslims accept IVF and AIH because Muslim families are expected to produce children to have a compete family. They are against surrogacy as the child produced still legally belongs to the woman carrying the baby.
