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Part II Human Reproduction T he general Christian perspective on human reproduction is rooted in the faith conviction that human beings are created in the image and likeness of God. As explained in the Catechism of the Catholic Church: “‘God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him, male and female he created them.’ Man occupies a unique place in creation: (I) he is ‘in the image of God’; (II) in his own nature he unites the spiritual and material worlds; (III) he is created ‘male and female’; (IV) God established him in his friendship.”1 From this core belief flows a rich view of human life in which the dignity of each member of the human family is recognized. As expressed a few lines later in the Catechism: “Being in the image of God the human individual possesses the dignity of a person, who is not just something, but someone. He is capable of selfknowledge , of self-possession and of freely giving himself and entering into communion with other persons. And he is called by grace to a covenant with his Creator, to offer him a response of faith and love that no other creature can give in his stead.”2 With this acknowledgment of “human dignity” comes a specific responsibility to protect and promote human life, and to treat all human beings with the utmost respect—a responsibility that falls upon both the individual and society as a whole. As John Paul II explained in his encyclical letter The Gospel of Life: The Gospel of life is for the whole of human society. To be actively pro-life is to contribute to the renewal of society through the promotion of the common good. It is impossible to further the common good without acknowledging and defending the 45 right to life, upon which all the other inalienable rights of individuals are founded and from which they develop. A society lacks solid foundations when, on the one hand, it asserts values such as the dignity of the person, justice and peace, but then, on the other hand, radically acts to the contrary by allowing or tolerating a variety of ways in which human life is devalued and violated, especially where it is weak or marginalized . Only respect for life can be the foundation and guarantee of the most precious and essential goods of society, such as democracy and peace.3 This obligation to treat humanity with respect is clearly expressed throughout sacred scripture, from the Ten Commandments through the letters of St. Paul. Within the context of the Bible, many Christians believe that God has given specific rules and guidelines for the faithful to follow. And yet, the Bible does not explicitly speak about many of the most troubling issues Christians are facing today. Regarding human reproduction, there is no direct mention of abortion, contraception, artificial reproduction, cloning , etc. It is at this point that the conscientious Christian must call upon the gift of reason to help form his or her conscience regarding the ethical nature of various aspects of human reproduction, and to help answer what is perhaps the most important ethical question regarding human reproduction as a whole, “When does human life begin?” Of course, the Bible does provide some guidance on the question of when life begins. For example, Jeremiah 1:5 proclaims: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I dedicated you, a prophet to the nations I appointed you”; and Psalm 139:13–14 says: “You formed my inmost being; you knit me in my mother’s womb. I praise you, so wonderfully you made me; wonderful are your works! My very self you knew.......” For many Christians, these scripture passages reinforce the belief that God creates each unique human soul at the moment of our conception, which in turn clarifies the immoral nature of abortion. However, that being said, opposition to abortion need not be viewed solely as a religious argument. As Frs. Ashley and O’Rourke point out regarding abortion in their text Health Care Ethics: A Theological Analysis: Officially the Catholic Church has never based its opposition to direct abortion on the claim that the human soul is created at conception. The Declaration on Procured Abortion(CDF,1974),whileaffirmingthatfromthetimeofconceptiondirectabortion is always a grave sin, appended a note #19 saying, “This declaration expressly leaves aside the question of the moment when the spiritual soul is infused. There is not a...

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