…One issue that pits the Catholic Church against the majority of [Poles] is in vitro fertilisation (IVF), a subject of intense debate in the Polish media. The Vatican regards it as a sin because it splits sex from conception and because unused embryos will die. Polish bishops famously described the practice as “refined abortion” and have threatened to excommunicate MPs who vote for anything other than to ban it.
Yet more than two thirds of Poles oppose any ban on IVF treatment. And 85% of couples in the 25 to 30 age range told a recent study that they would consider using IVF if necessary. In the absence of any legislation, IVF is legal in Poland – but it has to be done privately. The people, and the European Union, have long been demanding a law that would regulate the use of the technique and allow the state health service to cover at least part of its costs.
That the EU could have any say in this matter is appalling. This ought to be something for Poles—and Poles alone— to work out. The Polish Catholic Church is fully entitled to campaign for a ban on IVF. Those are the democratic rules, but, if it chooses to play the democratic game, it must accept the results.
Completely off-topic, but I think you folks should be jealous that you didn’t make this list. I know I am: http://www.alternet.org/belief/5-most-awful-atheists?paging=off
I always loved this rationale from the religious who apparently don’t realize that the overwhelming majority of fertilized eggs caused through sexual intercourse, as well as unfertilized eggs, are flushed from the body and die naturally anyhow. Instead of acknowledging this simple biological fact, they choose to whine about unfertilized eggs that are disposed of in a lab.
There’s something wrong with these people.