Why are in vitro fertilization and human cloning forbidden?
Pope John XX111 taught that since the “transmission of human life is entrusted by nature to a personal conscious act, and as such, is subject to the all-holy laws of God,” in assisted human procreation ” .one cannot use means and follow methods that could be licit in the transmission of the life of plants and animals.”1 The Church has condemned in vitro fertilization between husband and wife (homologous in vitro fertilization) because it is in itself illicit, and in opposition to the dignity of procreation and of the conjugal union. It has also condemned in vitro fertilization in which sperm or ovum of a third person is used (heterologous in vitro fertilization) because, in addition, it violates the reciprocal commitment of the spouses and shows a grave lack of regard for that essential property of marriage which is unity. Furthermore, it deprives the child of her or his filial relationship with parental origins, can hinder the maturing of personal identity, can damage personal relatio
