They also feel that whilst having infertility treatements doctors are “playing God” and are interfering with the natural process, as they believe that only God can create life. To back this up a statement from the Modern Catholic Dictationary says “Artificial insemination is different from natural intercourse. As used with animals this poses no moral problem. However, the Church teaches that among humans, AI violates the dignity of the person and the sanctity of marriage.”Lastly, some infertility treatements such as IVF,AID,AIH require men to give sperm samples that can only be achieved by masturbation however masturbation is considered as a sin by Catholics.
On the other hand many general Christians e.g. Church of England has an almost completely different view on infertility treatments. They accept the use of fertility treatements such as IVF and AIH to help childless couples as long as a third party is not involved because they believe that children are a blessing from God thus this kind of technology should be used to give childless couples the joy of children as well. This is assured by the Church of England in the Human Fertilization and Embryology 1984 which says that, “Intercourse and procreation are often separated so AIH is therefore acceptable….” They believe that God has given us this ability, opportunity and talent to develop these kind of techniques hence we should use them to their full potential. Furthermore as long as the egg and sperm belongs to the couple they have no issue with where fertilisation takes place. They also counteract the Catholic view on discarded embryos by arguing that it is justified under the doctorine of double effect i.e. the real intention is to reproduce a child rather then to kill embryos. However most Christians do not readily accept other forms of infertility treatments as it raises questions about parentage in AID, egg and embryo donation. They rather encourage childless couples to adopt.
On the other hand Muslims have restricted attitudes towards infertility treatements. Muslims accept AIH and IVF as long as absolute security is maintained. As the egg/sperm is from the couple they have no issue about where fertilisation takes place. It was said in Article of Islamic Acts by Imam Al-Khoei Muslims that “Making the semen of a husband reach the womb of his wife is permissible and the child thus born is like all other children” demonstrates that AIH is allowed in Islam according to some scholars.. The family, which is the centre of Islam, is so important that they believe infertility treatement should be used to bring it about since the ultimate aim is good. Muslims believe that life comes in the foetus after 14 days thus this is when embryo becomes a human. In IVF fertilised eggs are put in the women when they are 2-3 days, hence since the embryo doesn’t posses human rights discarding embryos is not a sin and can also be justified under the doctrine of double effect i.e. the intention is to produce/create a child rather then to kill embryos.
However Muslims do not allow any othe form of infertility treatements except IVF and AIH mainly because they believe it is a form of adoption which is not allowed in Islam. Moreover conception that is achieved by a donor ,e.g. in AID, is classified as adultery, which is a great sin, “Nor come close to adultery, for it is a shameful deed and an evil opening the road to other evils” (Qur’an 17 :32). They also deny the right of children to know their natural/biological parents. Lastly, they believe that the child born as a result of surrogacy belongs to the mother as this is what the Shari’ah i.e. Quranic law teaches.
Overall I can say that both religions i.e. Islam and Christianity have a range/variety of attitudes to infertility treatements. Where Muslims have a certain attitude to infertility treatements i.e. allow no treatement except IVF and AIH, the attitude among Christians vary. Roman Catholics are strongly against the use of infertility treatements while other general Christians such as Church of England allow it, believing children are a blessing.
