Pope Francis has called for a global ban on surrogacy, denouncing it as a “grave violation of the dignity of the woman and the child”. The Pope made the comments during his New Year’s address to diplomats at the Vatican.
He said that surrogacy represents an exploitation of situations of the mother’s material needs and is a commercialization of pregnancy. He expressed his hope for an effort by the international community to prohibit this practice universally.
The Pope has been a vocal critic of surrogacy and has previously condemned it as an “inhuman” practice. He believes that children are always a gift and never the basis of a commercial contract. The Pope’s stance is based on his belief that the path to peace calls for respect for life, which begins with the life of the unborn child in the mother’s womb.
While altruistic surrogacy, where no money changes hands, is legal in countries such as Belgium, the Netherlands, the UK, Canada, Brazil, and Colombia, commercial surrogacy is permitted in some US states. However, the Pope’s call for a universal ban on surrogacy is likely to spark a debate on the ethics of surrogacy and its impact on the dignity of women and children.
In conclusion, the Pope’s call for a global ban on surrogacy is a reflection of his belief that the practice is a violation of the dignity of women and children. While surrogacy is legal in some countries, the Pope’s stance is likely to spark a debate on the ethics of surrogacy and its impact on the dignity of women and children.
Related
