An Unholy Science

In a May 2024 Pew poll, more than two-thirds of Americans indicated they thought that IVF (in vitro fertilization) is good and should be accessible to anyone who wants it. Even among social conservatives -- including the current U.S. administration -- there is a push for wider accessibility for artificial procreation options. But is IVF truly the gift for infertile couples that it's perceived to be? In this thoughtful, eminently readable guide, Stacy Trasancos examines the issues associated with IVF through scientific, philosophical, and theological lenses and traces the history of artificial procreation and the developments of moral teachings to reveal syllogistically why IVF is not the "way of life." Drawing from her own research into the development of this teaching and the testimonies of those who have used or considered IVF, Dr. Trasancos addresses the concerns and ethical considerations related to IVF from an interdisciplinary perspective. She answers a range of pivotal questions, including: How can IVF be opposed to human dignity if it allows couples to bear new life? How are children conceived through IVF impacted by this decision? What do we as a society do about all the embryos in cryogenic storage? What are the Five Principles of Human Life? Why exactly does the Church oppose IVF? What rights do human embryos possess? How do we love embryonic children?

Through riveting case studies, Dr. Trasancos also deepens our understanding of the cross of infertility and, in doing so, provides those who long for a child with a reassuring supernatural perspective that God will always provide us with exactly the gifts we need most. Throughout these pages, seemingly pulled from today's headlines, Dr. Trasancos reminds us, with both candor and sensitivity, of the fundamental truth that children are a gift and that every human has a right to be loved.