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?

[Redhelen72]

but the child does not exist until its born so how can you regulate for something that does not exist

[andy-hughes]

naomi - // 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. //

That's a cynical viewpoint.

Yes, there are peope who feel forced into getting a child any way they can, by family and peer pressure, as well as a simple longing for a child.

But that applies equally to parents who conceive naturally.

The world is full of children who were conceived by couples who simply did what they thought everyone else did, or bowed to their parents' endlessly asking "When are you going to make us grandparents then?" and so on.

But I would suggest that you can't adopt a one-size-fits-all condemnation, because that takes a simplistic view of a complex situation, with every couple being different,including their motives for entering the process in the first place.

As a point of interest - do you have children?

[Mozz71]

I have no issue with surrogacy. If a couple are unable to conceive through infertility, or have a history of miscarriages, then it should be a viable option. 

[Hopkirk]

It's all too easy for those of us not in similar circumstances to express strong opinions. I include the Pope in that.

[youngmafbog]

but on the other hand if you are not emotionally involved you can make more rational decisions.

[Redhelen72]

had surrogacy been an option available to me I would have gone down that route

[andy-hughes]

YMB - // but on the other hand if you are not emotionally involved you can make more rational decisions. //

There is a world of difference between not being emotionally involved, and not having even the basic experience of life in the real world, never mind life in a marriage or relationship, which is why the Pope, and the entire Catholic church, have no business inteferring in matters they cannot begin to actually understand.

[naomi24]

//not having even the basic experience of life in the real world, never mind life in a marriage or relationship//

 

This pope has experience of the real world.  Whether or not he's had relationships isn't recorded.

 

///worked for a time as a bouncer and a janitor as a young man before training to be a chemist and working as a technician in a food science laboratory. ///

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Francis

 

Redhelen, why didn't you go down that route?

[andy-hughes]

naomi - // Whether or not he's had relationships isn't recorded. //

And now he lives surrounded by people who think he has a direct line to God, so whatever life experience he may have had, it's bound to be a distant memory by now.

Let's not forget, he didn't go from janitor to Pope in one jump, he had to live a celebate life of indilgence and flattery as a priest for years, then isolation from anything approaching real life as a cardinal, and the removal from anything approaching reality, as Pope.

His choices hardly indicate that he felt that 'normal' life was what he wanted, which was why he chose to opt out of it all those years ago.

[Redhelen72]

Legal implications in NI and the cost

[naomi24]

// it's bound to be a distant memory by now.//

 

Having channeled his life since then in just one direction, he may well cherish the memories.  We are not to know and so should not make unfounded assumptions.

 

That's beside the point anyway.  The question is not about him but about what he said and thoughts on that.  

[Canary42]

This wicked old paedo-supporter should be locked up.

[Ellipsis]

> Pope Francis called on Monday for a global ban

LOL

[youngmafbog]

//This wicked old paedo-supporter should be locked up.//

Well yes, but this is a different topic.

And why shouldnt he call for a world wide ban(Catholics are across the world)? It wont happen but he should be allowed to call for it and prompt debate.

[Ellipsis]

> And why shouldnt he call for a world wide ban(Catholics are across the world)? 

The fact that he's a Catholic should have nothing to do with it. If he's right, then it's not because he's a Catholic, it's because he had a compelling argument.  But then, there is no such thing as a global ban.   Every country would have to enact this ban separately, based on this compelling argument. Good luck with that ... and that's why the LOL.  It's just propaganda.

The insidious part is this: many people have successfully had surrogate pregnancies.  All is well with their world.  But then some pope comes along and says it (that's already happened) is "deplorable" and a grave violation of the dignity of the woman and the child, and shouldn't happen again. Well, get stuffed to that, Francis, and your religion, says I - but some people who have successfully had surrogate pregnancies are Catholic, and take his comments quite seriously.  I'm sorry for them.

[bednobs]

so would people be equally supportive if it were gary linekar, lily allen or bono calling for a worldwide ban on it "to spark debate" ?

i give about as much credence to the pope calling for a ban, as i would any of the above

[bednobs]

and in case anyone is in any doubt that credence is zero!

 

[naomi24]

It's a shame the focus here seems to be on who he is rather than the question he's raised.   

[Canary42]

The idea that the Pope should act as a catalyst for debate is laughable - this tyrant regards himself as infallible, so debate is naturally proscribed.

[naomi24]

It isn't here.