Steven Bozza, MAIn today’s times, the scientific community has found ways to determine the likelihood of children being born with genetic disorders. Couples, especially those who have a family history of such disorders, rightly seek to know whether or not they carry within them genetic defects that may manifest in their children. As pastoral ministers, how do we respond to questions regarding genetic counseling when preparing couples for Christian marriage? We begin with the following premise: “Genetic counseling may be provided in order to promote responsible parenthood and to prepare for the proper treatment and care of children with genetic defects, in accordance with Catholic moral teaching and the intrinsic rights and obligations of married couples regarding the transmission of life.” Ethical and Religious Directives #54. All couples should be conscientious in their childbearing decisions. Genetic testing, if accurate, is an acceptable means to gather information in order to be conscientious. It may even be obligatory with a view toward the potential child’s well being. Today, some defects can be corrected safely in utero or shortly after birth. What if couples test positive for genetic defects? Do they continue with plans to have children? Or do they avoid having children? If they avoid having children, do they violate the marriage covenant? To answer this question let us examine the following statement: “If we look further to physical, economic, psychological and social conditions, responsible parenthood is exercised by those who, guided by prudent consideration and generosity, elect to accept many children. Those are also to be considered responsible who for serious reasons and with due respect for moral precepts, decide not to have another child for either a definite or an indefinite amount of time” Humanae Vitae 10 Responsible parenthood calls on husbands and wives to take into consideration their physical, economic, psychological and social conditions. These considerations beg the following questions: Can my body handle the physical stress of childbearing and childbirth? Can we bear the financial obligations a human child places on a family for food, clothing, shelter, medical expenses and education? Are we mentally capable to love and nourish this child? Children with genetic disorders or any serious health problem require much more love, nurturing and financial commitment than children without these conditions. Can a couple provide this? Some can. For those who can’t, responsible parenthood becomes a matter of justice toward the child. It is a child’s right to have the emotional, and economic commitment of his or her parents, and the parent’s duty to provide them to the child. The absence of these commitments provides the “serious reasons” for a couple to delay childbirth “for either a definite or indefinite amount of time.” The good news is that these conditions may improve over time. A couple that may not at first be emotionally mature enough or mentally capable to love and care for a disabled child adequately may eventually be ready to do so. If today they do not have the financial means to bear the cost of health care such children require, tomorrow they might. Also, scientific advancement may provide cures for what was once incurable down the road. So how should a couple just starting out in married life together proceed? First. They begin with the presumption of having children. In this way, they acknowledge and incorporate within themselves that “marriage and married love are by nature ordered to the procreation and education of children.” Gaudium and Spes #50 Second. If they test positive for genetic disorders, they must act in such a way that will be in the child’s well being and in accord with justice toward him or her. Third. Sterilization, contraception and abortion are not morally acceptable options. They are intrinsically evil and therefore no circumstance may justify their use. Fourth. Natural Family Planning is a morally acceptable practice to delay childbirth when running the risk of having a child with congenital disease would be unfair to others or when having a child afflicted with the disease would entail responsibilities the couple could not fulfill or would be seriously tempted to omit fulfilling. The prospect of genetic testing is loaded with great potential for humanity. If the genetic cause of hereditary disease is found, corrective therapy is soon to follow. “Science and technology (are) at the service of the human person… being ordered to man, who initiates and develops them, they draw from the person and his moral values the indication of their purpose and the awareness of their limits…science without conscience can only lead to man’s ruin.” Donum Vitae #2 Genetic testing and therapy, in order to remain a benefit for families, must be used for the right reasons. If they are used in order to have the perfect child, free of defect, its goodness is negated. References Ashley, Benedict M., O’Rourke, Kevin D. Healthcare Ethics: A Theological Analysis. 4th Edition Georgetown University Press, Washington D.C. 1997 Grisez, Germain. The Way Of The Lord Jesus, Vol. 3, Difficult Moral Questions. Franciscan Press, Quincy I.L. 1997 |
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