Zagreb, (IKA) – The Press Office of the Croatian Conference of Bishops has issued the Statement by the CCB on Artificial Fertilization, which we present in its entirety:
Concomitant with the development of medicine and science, on several occasions the Magisterium of the Catholic Church in its encyclicals and directives has presented its clear and unambiguous position on artificial fertilization, as well as other matters that concern human sexuality and procreation. Desiring to make a contribution to the current discussion on the proposed Artificial Fertilization Act, the bishops emphasize several fundamental principles upon which the position of the Catholic Church is based and which should be taken into consideration when making decisions regarding this delicate matter:
• recognition of the human dignity of each human being from conception to natural death, together with the consequent subjective right to life and physical integrity;
• the unity of marriage, which involves reciprocal respect of the right of spouses to become a father and a mother only through each other; and
• the gift of human life must be actualized in marriage through the specific and exclusive acts of a husband and wife, in accordance with the laws inscribed in their persons and in their union, because love and procreation are indivisible and may not be separated forcibly.
In efforts to regulate the area of human procreation legally, we wish to express support to all those participants in the processes of decision making who abide by the aforementioned principles. Finally, in order to prevent serious and long-reaching consequences, we appeal for the adoption of such a legal solution that will prevent the violation of the human dignity of the persons involved – especially the child, protect the right to life and physical integrity from conception, the dignity of marriage and the dignity of the transmission of life in marriage, and prevent all eventual abuse through appropriate provisions.