Belgian bishops denounce law to extend artificial insemination rights

Published: 2006-06-19

BRUSSELS, Belgium (CNS) -- The Belgian bishops' conference has denounced a proposed law that would extend artificial insemination rights to unmarried couples and permit embryo selection. The bishops said that the bill had been adopted "without serious debate in society" and would violate human dignity. "Not everything which is technically possible and constitutes medical progress becomes morally supportable," they said June 12. "The wish to have a child is fine and legitimate. However, such a desire must give way before a still greater imperative -- the dignity of the person being born." The bill on medically assisted reproduction techniques was adopted June 1 by the social affairs commission of the Belgian Senate. If passed by both houses of Parliament, the measure will entitle all "authors of a parental project" to embryo implantations, including unmarried couples, gay and lesbian partnerships and single women.

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