Pope Calls For Universal Ban On Surrogate Parenting

[naomi24]

//Pope Francis called on Monday for a global ban on parenting via surrogacy, calling the practice "deplorable" and a grave violation of the dignity of the woman and the child.   Francis' remarks are likely to antagonise pro-LGBT+ groups, since surrogacy is often used by gay or lesbian partners who want to have children, and follow his landmark decision to allow priests to bless same-sex couples.//

 

https://www.reuters.com/world/pope-calls-universal-ban-deplorable-surrogate-parenting-2024-01-08/

 

Still pondering this a bit but at the moment I think I agree with him - although not for the same reasons.  What say you?

[davebro3]

too many people already without creating more artificially

[Old_Geezer]

I disagree. Although I'd be more supportive of limiting it to traditional relationships where they have yet to have a first child. Although they could consider adoption first, given my understanding the the surrogate mother doesn't "just" carry/incubate but supplies her own egg.

[ToraToraTora]

I agree, but not for religious reasons, there is no shortage of people, IVF should be self funded and surrogacy should be banned.

[douglas9401]

That's outrageous, OG, the very least a woman should expect is a light breakfast being supplied.

[barry1010]

I've been very fortunate as I've never been in the position of not having the family I always wanted.  I don't know how I'd feel if for any reason I was unable to father children.  I like to think that I would be happy and content without a family of my own or would be able to love adopted children as my own.  But I don't know.

I do know a woman who couldn't carry any of her four pregnancies to full term and her grief was palpable, the yearning has never left her.  She has told me of her uncontrollable jealousy when her friends and family have babies, the overwhelming yearning.  

She's in her 80s now, it's too late for her but I don't think I could tell a younger woman like her that surrogacy is wrong.

[Old_Geezer]

If she expects that then she'd be toast !

[Untitled]

i think he is a pompous monarch whose office should have been done away with centuries ago... i do not see how anyone's dignity is violated though i do think people who want children should be encouraged to adopt.

[naomi24]

That's only about her and what she wants though, Barry.  My first line of thought is that children are not commodities or possessions.

[Untitled]

is there any known risk to a child born through surrogacy? other than the fact that there are an awful lot of orphans who need loving homes i don't understand the problem

[youngmafbog]

Always going to be a difficult one, and there i no right or wrong answer.

I would tend to agree with him, not on religious grounds, nut due to the fact the earths population is goign to be a problem real fast. People who cannot normally have kids is Natures way of dealing with things.  So sad for those involved but I really think we shouldnt play with Mother Nature, she has a habit of biting back.

[andy-hughes]

If you don't play the game, don't make the rules.

[youngmafbog]

^^ What's that meant to mean?

[andy-hughes]

YMB - // ^^ What's that meant to mean? //

If you are head of a religion, and millions of people follow what you way, then you should not be pronouncing on matters that, because of your vow of celibacy, you cannot begin to inderstand. 

[youngmafbog]

OK, but surely he could understand from a point of his pious religion?

Or understand from the point of the population is too big?

[naomi24]

He hasn't mentioned religion and from what he's said his opinion doesn't appear to have religious connotations.

[andy-hughes]

naomi - // He hasn't mentioned religion and from what he's said his opinion doesn't appear to have religious connotations. //

He's the Pope - everything he says has religious connotations.

[andy-hughes]

YMB - // 

OK, but surely he could understand from a point of his pious religion?

Or understand from the point of the population is too big? //

I understand what he is saying, and why, but I can't take anything he says seriously, given the organisation he fronts, which is as corrupt and venal on a massive scale.

[Vagus]

If those who want to use surrogacy and can afford to, for their own personal reasons, then I don't believe it has anything to do with an old man who wears a funny hat.

As I understand it, a surrogate can carry a child which is not hers biologically, as well as carrying one which she has donated the egg for.

 

[barry1010]

Naomi, you are right, children aren't possessions but it is better they are born to parents who want them, don't you think?

[naomi24]

Barry, yes, I do think it's best for children to be born to people who want them but that's no reason to make them freely available to anyone who can afford to buy them like a designer handbag.  This is all about the people who want children - nothing about the child.