472. Why must society protect every embryo?
(Comp 472) The inalienable right to life of every human individual from the first
moment of conception is a constitutive element of civil society and its
legislation. When the State does not place its power at the service of the
rights of all and in particular of the more vulnerable, including unborn
children, the very foundations of a State based on law are undermined.
“In brief”
(CCC 2323) Because it should be
treated as a person from conception, the embryo must be defended in its
integrity, cared for, and healed like every other human being.
To deepen and
explain
(CCC 2273) The inalienable right to life of every innocent
human individual is a constitutive
element of a civil society and its legislation: "The inalienable
rights of the person must be recognized and respected by civil society and the
political authority. These human rights depend neither on single individuals
nor on parents; nor do they represent a concession made by society and the
state; they belong to human nature and are inherent in the person by virtue of
the creative act from which the person took his origin. Among such fundamental
rights one should mention in this regard every human being's right to life and
physical integrity from the moment of conception until death" (CDF, Donum vitae III). "The moment a
positive law deprives a category of human beings of the protection which civil
legislation ought to accord them, the state is denying the equality of all
before the law. When the state does not place its power at the service of the
rights of each citizen, and in particular of the more vulnerable, the very
foundations of a state based on law are undermined.... As a consequence of the
respect and protection which must be ensured for the unborn child from the
moment of conception, the law must provide appropriate penal sanctions for
every deliberate violation of the child's rights" (CDF, Donum vitae III).
Reflection
(CCC 2274) Since it must be treated from conception as a
person, the embryo must be defended in its integrity, cared for, and healed, as
far as possible, like any other human being. Prenatal diagnosis is morally licit, "if it respects the life
and integrity of the embryo and the human fetus and is directed toward its safe
guarding or healing as an individual.... It is gravely opposed to the moral law
when this is done with the thought of possibly inducing an abortion, depending
upon the results: a diagnosis must not be the equivalent of a death
sentence" (CDF, Donum vitae I,
2). (CCC 2275) "One must hold as licit procedures carried out on the human
embryo which respect the life and integrity of the embryo and do not involve
disproportionate risks for it, but are directed toward its healing, the
improvement of its condition of health, or its individual survival" (CDF, Donum vitae I, 3). It is immoral to
produce human embryos intended for exploitation as disposable biological
material" (CDF, Donum vitae I,
5). "Certain attempts to influence
chromosomic or genetic inheritance are not therapeutic but are aimed at
producing human beings selected according to sex or other predetermined
qualities. Such manipulations are contrary to the personal dignity of the human
being and his integrity and identity" (CDF, Donum vitae I, 6) which are unique and unrepeatable.
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