Instruction on Respect for Human Life In Its Origin and on the Dignity of Procreation replies to certain question of the day
The main reason for writing of this article is clearly stated in its Foreword, “Does not intend to repeat all the church’s teachings on the dignity of human life as it originates and on procreation, but to offer, in the light of the previous teaching of the Magisterium, some specific replies to the main questions being asked in his regard.” The writing is split up into categories (with subcategories):
Introduction-which recalls the fundamental principles necessary for a proper evaluation of problems and for working out replies to those questions
a. Biomedical research and the teaching of the church
b. Science and technology at the service of the human person
c. Anthropology and procedures in the biomedical field
d. Fundamental criteria for a moral judgment
e. Teachings of the magisterium
1. Part one, Respect for human embryos- which deals with respect for the human being from the first moment of his or her existence
a. What respect is due to the human embryo, taking into account his nature and identity?
b. Is the prenatal diagnosis morally licit?
c. Are there therapeutic procedures carried out on the human embryo licit?
d. How is one to evaluate morally research and experimentation on human embryos and fetuses?
e. How is one to evaluate morally the use for research purposes of embryos obtained by fertilization in vitro?
f. What judgment should be made on other procedure of manipulating embryos connected with the techniques of human reproduction?
2. Part two, Interventions upon human procreation- which deals with moral questions raised by technical interventions on human procreation
a. Heterologous artificial fertilization
i. Why must human procreation take place in marriage? ii. Does the heterologous artificial fertilization conform to the dignity of the couple and to the truth of marriage? iii. Is “surrogate”