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Conference lgp30::christian-perspective

Title:Discussions from a Christian Perspective
Notice:Prostitutes and tax collectors welcome!
Moderator:CSC32::J_CHRISTIE
Created:Mon Sep 17 1990
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:1362
Total number of notes:61362

507.0. "Fertility Drugs: a C. P." by SOLVIT::MSMITH (So, what does it all mean?) Mon Aug 17 1992 13:50

    Fertility Enhancing Drugs.  What is the Christian perspective on them?
    
    Are they a useful adjunct to helping otherwise infertile couples to
    bring children into the world?
    
    Or are they to be spurned because they subvert the natural process of 
    fertilization and, consequently, birth?
    
    Mike 
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name
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507.1JUPITR::HILDEBRANTI'm the NRAMon Aug 17 1992 14:073
    They seem to make sense to me. I see nothing wrong with them.
    
    Marc H.
507.2OKAYFATBOY::BENSONMon Aug 17 1992 15:004
    
    I see no problem with them myself.
    
    jeff
507.3CSC32::J_CHRISTIEKeep on loving boldly!Fri Aug 21 1992 23:3211
    Actually .0 does ask some thought-provoking questions about what may
    be considered natural and what may not.
    
    Are fertility drugs any more natural than infertility drugs, ie, "the
    pill"?
    
    Curiously, modern myth has it that "the pill" was the result of trying
    to find a way to make cattle more fertile.
    
    Peace,
    Richard
507.4MACNAS::BHARMONKEEP GOING NO MATTER WHATTue Aug 25 1992 11:296
    I see nothing wrong with fertility drugs.   Only for them I would not
    have my beaufiful eight and a half month old son, Daniel.
    
    
    
    Bernie
507.5DPDMAI::DAWSONt/hs+ws=Formula for the futureTue Aug 25 1992 16:027
    RE: .4   Hi Bernie,
    
    			 Your experience kinda puts a different light on
    the subject doesn't it?  
    
    
    Dave
507.6CSC32::J_CHRISTIEKeep on loving boldly!Tue Aug 25 1992 17:5514
    Bernie,
    
    	Welcome!
    
    	Don't misread me.  I'm not saying there anything is wrong with
    fertility drugs.  And I can certainly understand how you would see
    them as a blessing.
    
    	I was just pondering if the use of fertility drugs were any more
    "natural" than infertility drugs.  In both cases a conscious choice
    (to be pregnant or not to be pregnant) is made.  In both cases nature
    is manipulated to bring about the desired results.
    
    Richard
507.7SDSVAX::SWEENEYPatrick Sweeney in New YorkTue Aug 25 1992 20:545
    Richard,
    
    One is a choice affirming life, the other is a choice denying life.
    
    Pat
507.8MACNAS::BHARMONKEEP GOING NO MATTER WHATWed Aug 26 1992 06:0611
    Richard, 
    
    Yes, a conscious choice is made to get pregnant.   Fertility drugs
    do not always work, I was lucky.   They are not given out over the
    counter.   I had to have several tests done to see the reason for
    my infertility.   I had unexplaned infertility, so my doctor 
    put me on a course of fertiltiy drugs.   Daniel is the result.
    
    
    Bernie
    
507.9SOLVIT::MSMITHSo, what does it all mean?Wed Aug 26 1992 14:2220
    The reason why I asked the questions posed in .0 was I saw a discussion
    in another notes conference (Catholic _Theology) about a situation
    where a woman had taken fertility drugs, and found herself pregnant
    with something like 12 fetuses.  The situation was such that she has
    the choice of aborting some of the fetuses, or carrying them to term,
    apparently placing her life at significant risk.  The requested
    discussion there was about what she ought to do.  A few respondents
    indicated that fertility drugs were against Church policy, and others
    indicated that Church policy had nothing to say about it.  They had
    more to say reagarding the case in question, but I didn't intend to
    discuss that case in particular, but rather wanted to discuss the
    broader issue of fertility drugs in general.   

    What I wanted to discover was if there was any particular official
    policy (ies) among the Christian churches regarding fertility drugs,
    pro and/or con, considering that Christians do seem to have a lot to
    say about other aspects of human reproduction.

    Mike
                                                  
507.10VIDSYS::PARENTdeep voices in the amazoneWed Aug 26 1992 14:4813
   .-1

   The Catholic Church has presented many views mostly in the form
   of Papal Encyclicals over the last 20-30 years. Most of these 
   have been widely published in the media and therefore more widely
   known.  As a result the Catholic Church tends to recieve more
   attention (of any kind) due to it's visibility and conservitive
   positions.  They however are not alone in that they do have
   proscriptions of what is correct for the faith.  

   Peace,
   Allison
507.11SOLVIT::MSMITHSo, what does it all mean?Wed Aug 26 1992 16:229
    Allison, I don't know what the Catholic Church's views of fertility
    drugs are, so perhaps its view isn't quite as widely known as you
    thought!  Or any other Christian sect's for that matter.
    
    Respectfully, any information you can share regarding this would be
    most appreciated.  I know I will not use this information to bash
    anyone here. 
    
    Mike
507.12VIDSYS::PARENTdeep voices in the amazoneWed Aug 26 1992 16:3416
    
   Mike,

   I meant widely in that it did make major news oh, 10 or 20 years ago.
   I wish I had access to sources such as that.  I'm outside the Catholic
   church and do not feel motavated do the research to defend them.  If
   I had it, even hardcopy I would post it as part of the discussion as
   it certainly a valid point.

   I will state that since the Vatican is a country and the Pope is it's
   governmental leader as well the the spritual leader his words are 
   very newsworthy. 

   Peace,
   Allison

507.13SOLVIT::MSMITHSo, what does it all mean?Wed Aug 26 1992 17:4310
    Okay, I misunderstood.  Thank you, Allison.
    
    To all:
    
    Incidentally, I'm not looking for anyone to "defend" anything.  I'm
    simply trying to understand what the various Christian teachings are
    as regards fertility drugs.  Personally, I have no particular opinion
    on the use of these drugs.
    
    Mike