‘Deplorable’: Pope Francis Calls For Universal Ban On Surrogacy
Pope Francis has urged nations to ban surrogacy, deeming the practice “deplorable” during a speech he delivered yesterday at the Vatican City.
According to the Pope, the practice of “so-called surrogate motherhood” represents a “grave violation to the dignity of the woman and the child” and “is based on the exploitation of situations of the mother’s material needs.”
“A child is always a gift and never the basis of a commercial contract,” he insisted.
During the speech he called for a universal ban on surrogacy.
The Catholic Church has always held a strong stance against surrogacy, as well as in vitro fertilization (IVF).
Surrogacy is illegal in Malta and several other countries such as Italy and Germany, while in other countries like the United Kingdom, the practice is restricted with commercial surrogacy being illegal.
Malta’s Embryo Protection Act categorically bans surrogacy, with the those who practice it within the country being liable to a punishment of a fine of not less than €5,000 and not exceeding €15,000 or to imprisonment not exceeding three years.
The law also states that the surrogate, ie. the woman into whom the egg cell or embryo were transferred, shall have a lesser punishment.
Many well-known faces have resorted to surrogacy, with the likes of Kim Kardashian, Jimmy Fallon, and Priyanka and Nick Jonas opting for this practice.
What do you make of the Pope’s statement?
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