Strategic Approach for Engaging Women: Suggested Methods for the Potential Pope
Rewritten Article:
Meet Lori Sebastianutti, an author specializing in creative nonfiction that delves into the intricate realms of fertility, feminism, and the Catholic faith.
"An affront to the Creator."
Those chilling words still echo in my mind.
Sitting on my couch, my 4-month-old baby napping peacefully by my side, my 3-year-old jumping to the beat of the Wiggles, I discovered the words spoken by Pope Francis during a conversation with the Association of Italian Catholic Medical Doctors regarding Assisted Reproductive Technologies.
At that time, I was 39 and eagerly awaiting the birth of my second child. My spouse and I had conceived our bundles of joy through in-vitro fertilization (IVF), a journey that spanned an arduous decade of pokes, pricks, procedures, countless tears, and emotional turmoil.
And when I stumbled upon the pope's words, we had just christened our second child into the Catholic faith, a faith that has nourished us, our Italian immigrant parents, and generations of our family.
His words left me shattered.
I wasn't aware of the Catholic Church's stance on assisted reproduction, first articulated by Pope John Paul II in "Donum Vitae" or "Respect for Human Life" in 1987. Yet even after digesting the document, I couldn't help but question Pope Francis' harsh and, in my view, inaccurate criticism of the means by which my two children entered the world.
For a pope whose mission was built upon mercy to all rather than punishment, why couldn't he show compassion to the infertile? Why couldn't this pontiff offer mercy to those yearning for the experience of pregnancy, childbirth, and genetic parenthood?
Following Francis' departure, my spouse and I watched the morning news with our sons, now 10 and 12. I couldn't help but notice the sea of older men standing before his coffin in their rich robes. There it was in red and white - no woman would be included in the selection of the next pope.
I have always admired Pope Francis' efforts to treat LGBTQ+ and divorced Catholics with dignity and compassion. Yet, with 1-in-6 people experiencing infertility worldwide, many of us are eager to see the next pontiff build upon Francis' work on mercy by acknowledging and supporting our struggles.
I understand that these issues are far from simple. According to Pope John Paul II in "Donum Vitae," IVF fails to respect the connection between procreation and the conjugal act of a married couple. What's undeniably complicated is the pain we experience when conceiving through sexual intercourse is not an option.
Day after day, we endure painful hormone injections, regular ultrasound appointments, invasive tests, missed work, financial strain, insensitive comments, and a world that exalts motherhood but remains disinterested in our intimate challenges.
Anyone familiar with Francis' papacy knows that change within the Catholic Church unfolds at a snail's pace, if it materializes at all. However, unlike his predecessors, John Paul II and Benedict XVI, Francis did pioneer conversations on challenging topics such as LGBTQ+ and divorced Catholics and the ordination of women. Regrettably, his discussions about assisted reproduction, filled with terms like "sin" and "bad experimentation," only serve to stigmatize those of us already suffering.
My hope is that the next pope extends his compassion to all those on the fringes, even those of us who seem to have everything except the one thing we crave the most. Genuine compassion is the ability to alleviate the suffering of others.
Growing up in a Catholic household and attending Ontario's Catholic schools, the message was consistent: Jesus was unwavering in his compassion towards those seeking healing. Can't the next pope extend this very compassion to the childless?
Lori Sebastianutti is an author of creative nonfiction that interrogates fertility, feminism, and the Catholic faith.
It's important to note that opinion articles are drawn from the author's interpretations and perspectives of facts, data, and events.
Additional Insights:
- The Catholic Church maintains a consistent stance against in vitro fertilization (IVF) and other assisted reproductive technologies due to teachings regarding the sanctity of life and the moral integrity of procreation.
- Popes such as John Paul II and Francis have reaffirmed this stance, albeit with varying emphases reflecting their unique pastoral tones.
- John Paul II, in his teachings, emphasized theological and philosophical arguments against IVF, whilst Francis has framed the prohibition within broader social justice concerns.
- Both popes stress that IVF commodifies human life and may result in reducing children to "products" rather than gifts.
- Pope Francis, in a letter dating back to 2023, reiterated the Church's opposition to IVF and artificial birth control, encouraging adoption as an alternative.
- A 2024 declaration approved by Francis reinforced the Church's opposition to practices that violate human dignity, implicitly including IVF.
- Lori Sebastianutti, a creative nonfiction author, explores topics such as fertility, feminism, and the Catholic faith.
- In the media, Pope Francis' criticism of Assisted Reproductive Technologies, including in-vitro fertilization (IVF), left many feeling shattered, particularly those who have gone through the process.
- The Catholic Church, including previous popes like John Paul II and Francis, maintains a firm stance against IVF and other assisted reproductive technologies due to beliefs about the sanctity of life and the moral integrity of procreation.
- Despite Pope Francis' efforts to show compassion towards LGBTQ+ and divorced Catholics, many infertile individuals feel that his critique of IVF does not extend the same empathy.
- The struggle of those with infertility involves more than just the pain of not being able to conceive through sexual intercourse; it also encompasses hormone injections, regular tests, missed work, financial strain, insensitive comments, and a lack of understanding from society.
- Lori Sebastianutti's creative nonfiction work questions the Catholic Church's harsh criticism of IVF and calls for a more compassionate approach towards infertile individuals who are yearning for genetic parenthood.
- The Catholic Church's stance on IVF is complex, with both John Paul II and Francis framing it within theological and philosophical arguments and social justice concerns.
- Both popes stress that IVF commodifies human life and may result in reducing children to "products" rather than gifts.
- Lori Sebastianutti's opinion pieces draw from her personal experiences and interpretations of the Catholic Church's stance on IVF, urging for a greater understanding and support of those experiencing infertility within the church community.
