Infertility - Read this info & watch the video

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Nativity Of Our Lord Parish

Infertility

As Catholics, in the Our Father we pray, Thy will be done. If a couple is unable to conceive a child naturally, they are asked to trust that this is the will of God for them, and to wait to see what God has planned for their lives. By turning to in vitro fertilization (IVF), a couple is essentially telling God that they do not trust in His plan for their lives, that they want to control their own lives. Moreover, for every one child conceived by in vitro fertilization, on average 6 children (embryos) are killed. There are also hundreds of thousands of freezer babies, embryos that have been kept in the deep freeze, waiting for their parents to come and claim them. As Catholics, we believe that every life is one of Gods children, and that we have no right to either create life artificially or take life. We are also not allowed to experiment on the lives that have been created, even the ones that have been created artificially. We separate ourselves from God when we ignore His commands. When we separate ourselves from God, we cannot expect God to protect and bless our lives or families. Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and that of the gospel will save it. What profit is there for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? Mark 8:34

The process of in vitro fertilization is an emotionally and physically strenuous process. The woman is given high doses of fertility drugs so that multiple eggs mature at once. These fertility drugs, given in high doses, can be dangerous for the woman. She then undergoes a surgical procedure to harvest these eggs. They are then placed in a petri dish and the mans semen (obtained through masturbation) is added to the petri dish. Multiple eggs are fertilized at one time, because going back for more is expensive and increases the risks for the woman. They then chose the healthiest looking embryos to implant in the uterus. They usually implant multiple embryos, knowing that not all will survive. If they do all survive, they selectively kill some of the embryos in the uterus, knowing that the more babies in the womb, the higher the risk for both the mother and the babies. The leftover embryos are either thrown away or frozen, to possibly use at a later date. There is an increased risk of birth defects in babies conceived through in vitro fertilization. The cost of IVF on average is $15,000, and even if your insurance covers it, there can be a lot of incidental expenses that are not covered. The success rate is about 30%, rapidly decreasing as the woman ages.

Video by Dr. Tad Pacholczyk
Video Provided By NACEPF.net

There are morally acceptable ways to treat infertility. Dr. Thomas Hilgers, in response to Pope Paul VIs encyclical, Humanae Vitae (Human Life), started The Pope Paul VI Institute in Omaha, Nebraska, in order to develop morally acceptable ways of treating infertility. There is now a network of providers called Fertility Care Centers of America. Dr. Hilgers developed the Creighton Model Fertility Care System, and uses what they call NaPro Techhnology (natural procreative technology). They spend more time trying to diagnose the cause of infertility, and attempt to correct it than an IVF clinic. They are said to be three times more successful than IVF.

Napro Technology - VNR Video provided by saintmaxworldwide.org.

Some couples discover after their struggle with infertility that God's plan for them is to adopt or become foster parents for children who desperately need loving parents. When you talk to couples who have both genetic and adopted children, there is no difference in the love that they have for their adopted children and genetic children.

For more information:
Fertility Care Centers of America: http://www.fertilitycare.org/
Dr. Hilgers website: http://www.drhilgers.com/

For information on NaProTechnology: http://www.naprotechnology.com/

An EWTN interview with Dr. Hilgers begins at minute 23
on this You Tube Video.

This article tells of a couples struggle with infertility: http://www.staycatholic.com/what_is_wrong_with_in-vitro_fertilization.htm

PROVERBS, CHAPTER 3
My son, forget not my teaching, keep in mind my commands; For many days, and years of life, and peace, will they bring you. Let not kindness and fidelity leave you; bind them around your neck; Then will you win favor and good esteem before God and man.
Trust in the LORD with all your hearts, on your own intelligence rely not; In all your ways be mindful of Him, and He will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes, fear the LORD and turn away from evil; This will mean health for your flesh and vigor for your bones.

Honor the LORD with your wealth, with first fruits of all your produce; Then will your barns be filled with grain, with new wine your vats will overflow. The discipline of the LORD, my son, disdain not; spurn not his reproof; For whom the LORD loves he reproves, and He chastises the son He favors.

Happy the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding! For her profit is better than profit in silver, and better than gold is her revenue. She is more precious than corals, and none of your choice possessions can compare with her. Long life is in her right hand, in her left are riches and honor; Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace; She is a tree of life to those who grasp her, and he is happy who holds her fast .

The LORD by wisdom founded the earth, established the heavens by understanding; By His knowledge the depths break open, and the clouds drop down dew. My son, let not these slip out of your sight: keep advice and counsel in view; So will they be life to your soul, and an adornment for your neck. Then you may securely go your way; your foot will never stumble; When you lie down, you need not be afraid, when you rest, your sleep will be sweet.

Honor is the possession of wise men, but fools inherit shame.
Be not afraid of sudden terror, of the ruin of the wicked when it comes; For the LORD will be your confidence, and will keep your foot from the snare.

Refuse no one the good on which he has a claim when it is in your power to do it for him. Say not to your neighbor, "Go, and come again, tomorrow I will give," when you can give at once. Plot no evil against your neighbor, against him who lives at peace with you. Quarrel not with a man without cause, with one who has done you no harm. Envy not the lawless man and choose none of his ways: To the LORD the perverse man is an abomination, but with the upright is His friendship. The curse of the LORD is on the house of the wicked, but the dwelling of the just He blesses; When He is dealing with the arrogant, He is stern, but to the humble He shows kindness.

To learn more about Gods plans for your life, develop a relationship with Him. You do this by spending time with Him. Go to mass on Sunday and say your prayers every day. The Eucharist is food for the journey of life. God speaks to us through the bible. Try to read a little of it every day. You can read the bible at www.USCCB.org.

To learn more about your Catholic faith tune into Relevant Radio (http://relevantradio.com/index.php), located at 950 on the AM dial, or watch EWTN Catholic television on cable TV (http://www.ewtn.com/) .

Adoration is a wonderful way to bring your problems to God. At Adoration, He is exposed on the altar, and you can kneel or sit there and have a silent conversation with Him. You tell Him your problems and then sit with Him, and allow Him to speak to your heart and work in your life. Some people read the bible, a prayer book, or meditate on one phrase of the bible or prayer. Nativity has adoration on the first Friday of each month from 6-7 pm.