Toward a Theology of Infertility and the Role of Donum Vitae

Horizons ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 28-52 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathryn Lilla Cox
Keyword(s):  
Roman Catholic ◽  
Reproductive Technologies ◽  
Human Freedom ◽  
Cultural Assumptions

A theology of infertility is needed to help couples and the broader ecclesial community understand the theological implications of infertility. Infertility raises questions about human freedom, finitude, embodiment, childlessness, and parenthood. In this article, dominant cultural assumptions surrounding each of these areas when considering reproductive technologies are sketched. Official Roman Catholic teaching on reproductive technologies (Donum Vitae), while rejecting most forms of such technologies, does provide a viable response to the presupposition that reproductive technologies resolve infertility. Given the dominant cultural assumptions and insights from Roman Catholic teaching, this article advocates for several ecclesial changes when considering infertility. Finally, theological resources for developing a theology of infertility are offered. Specifically, insights from Karl Rahner's theology of concupiscence are examined with an eye toward how they provide a framework for rethinking the cultural assumptions about freedom and finitude when considering reproductive technologies.

The fruit of truth is sown by the creators of peace

1998 ◽  
pp. 43-44
Author(s):  
Anatolii M. Kolodnyi
Keyword(s):  
Roman Catholic ◽  
Christian Churches ◽  
Greco Roman

At the All-Ukrainian Christian Forum "The Fruit of Truth is Sacrified by the Creators of Peace", which took place in Kyiv in May, a section on the role of Christianity in the development of morality and spirituality worked. The section involved scientists, as well as theologians and teachers of eight Christian churches - three Orthodox, Greco-Roman Catholic, as well as Baptist, Adventist, and Pentecostal. At the session of the section were heard 20 reports and messages.

scholarly journals Pannexins and Connexins: Their Relevance for Oocyte Developmental Competence

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (11) ◽  
pp. 5918
Author(s):  
Paweł Kordowitzki ◽  
Gabriela Sokołowska ◽  
Marta Wasielak-Politowska ◽  
Agnieszka Skowronska ◽  
Mariusz T. Skowronski
Keyword(s):  
Assisted Reproductive Technologies ◽  
Mammalian Species ◽  
Atp Release ◽  
Reproductive Technologies ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Developmental Competence ◽  
Physiological Processes ◽  
Protein Group ◽  
Multicellular Organisms

The oocyte is the major determinant of embryo developmental competence in all mammalian species. Although fundamental advances have been generated in the field of reproductive medicine and assisted reproductive technologies in the past three decades, researchers and clinicians are still trying to elucidate molecular factors and pathways, which could be pivotal for the oocyte’s developmental competence. The cell-to-cell and cell-to-matrix communications are crucial not only for oocytes but also for multicellular organisms in general. This latter mentioned communication is among others possibly due to the Connexin and Pannexin families of large-pore forming channels. Pannexins belong to a protein group of ATP-release channels, therefore of high importance for the oocyte due to its requirements of high energy supply. An increasing body of studies on Pannexins provided evidence that these channels not only play a role during physiological processes of an oocyte but also during pathological circumstances which could lead to the development of diseases or infertility. Connexins are proteins that form membrane channels and gap-junctions, and more precisely, these proteins enable the exchange of some ions and molecules, and therefore they do play a fundamental role in the communication between the oocyte and accompanying cells. Herein, the role of Pannexins and Connexins for the processes of oogenesis, folliculogenesis, oocyte maturation and fertilization will be discussed and, at the end of this review, Pannexin and Connexin related pathologies and their impact on the developmental competence of oocytes will be provided.

scholarly journals Hospital chaplains as ethical consultants in making difficult medical decisions

2021 ◽  
pp. medethics-2020-107096
Author(s):  
Waldemar Głusiec
Keyword(s):  
Roman Catholic ◽  
Medical Decision ◽  
Medical Decisions ◽  
Hospital Chaplains ◽  
Specialist Knowledge ◽  
Hospital Ethics ◽  
Bioethical Education ◽  
Further Development

Background and aimsFew Polish hospitals have Hospital Ethics Committee (HECs) and the services are not always adequate. In this situation, the role of HECs, in providing, among others, ethical advice on the discontinuation of persistent therapies, may be taken over by other entities. The aim of our research was to investigate, how often and on what issues hospital chaplains are asked for ethical advice in reaching difficult medical decisions.MethodsA survey of 100 Roman Catholic chaplains was conducted, that is, at least 10% of all chaplains currently working in Polish hospitals.ResultsOf the participants, 29% confirmed receiving requests for advice in making a morally difficult medical decision. Receiving this type of request was not conditional on the place of their service, duration of their pastoral mission or HEC membership. The largest group of chaplains (21%) encounter questions concerning the ethical dilemmas associated with discontinuing persistent therapy. Patients and their families most often raise issues related to the methods of birth control, and the medical staff raise the issue of termination of pregnancy—as reported by 9% and 15% of chaplains, respectively. Most of the chaplains asked for help (79%) experience a deficit of specialist knowledge in the area of medicine or ethics.ConclusionsIn order to improve the quality of ethical consultations in Polish hospitals, in addition to further development of HECs, it is postulated to develop a system for bioethical education of chaplains.

The role of maternal age in the assisted reproductive technologies

1999 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-60 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark A Damario ◽  
Owen K Davis ◽  
Zev Rosenwaks
Keyword(s):  
Older Women ◽  
Assisted Reproductive Technologies ◽  
Clinical Importance ◽  
Ovarian Response ◽  
Reproductive Technologies ◽  
Abortion Rate ◽  
Western World ◽  
Delayed Childbearing ◽  
Art Outcome

Age is perhaps the most important single variable influencing outcome in the assisted reproductive technologies (ART). The effect of advancing age on clinical ART outcome is manifested not only in the pattern of ovarian response to stimulation regimens, but also in reduced implantation efficiency and an increased spontaneous abortion rate. The clinical importance of these factors is compounded by the fact that increasing numbers of older women are presenting for ART treatment. Delayed childbearing is becoming increasingly common in the western world. The availability of methods of birth control, educational and career priorities for women, and the increased rates of divorce and remarriage are some of the factors contributing to this phenomenon.

The role of ALK5 in the profile of early reproductive losses in the use of assisted reproductive technologies

2021 ◽  
pp. 70-76
Author(s):  
Abuduwaili Ruziguli ◽  
Nikolai Nikolaevich Rukhliada ◽  
Anna Nikolaevna Taits ◽  
Tatyana Ivanovna Prohorovich ◽  
Tatyana Aleksandrovna Libova
Keyword(s):  
Natural Killer Cells ◽  
Natural Killer ◽  
Embryo Transfer ◽  
Spontaneous Abortion ◽  
Assisted Reproductive Technologies ◽  
Immunohistochemical Study ◽  
Reproductive Technologies ◽  
Decidual Tissue ◽  
Reproductive Losses

This article is devoted to the assessment of the role of ALK5 in the profile of early reproductive losses in the use of assisted reproductive technologies, in particular, by using immunohistochemical study in the group of patients with early spontaneous abortion after the procedure of embryo transfer, a lower level of ALK5 expression in the decidual tissue was revealed (in comparison with control), which may be related to the occurrence of early reproductive losses caused by the imbalance in Th1 / Th2 and its effect on the increase in the concentration of natural killer cells.

Roman Catholicism in the University of Cambridge: St Edmund's House in 1898

2008 ◽  
Vol 59 (4) ◽  
pp. 697-713 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. C. LUBENOW
Keyword(s):  
History Of Education ◽  
Roman Catholic ◽  
Roman Catholicism ◽  
Cambridge University ◽  
University Of Cambridge ◽  
University History ◽  
History Of ◽  
The University

The question in 1898 of the recognition by Cambridge University of St Edmund's House, a Roman Catholic foundation, might initially seem to involve questions irrelevant in the modern university. It can, however, be seen to raise issues concerning modernity, the place of religion in the university and the role of the university itself. This article therefore sets this incident in university history in wider terms and examines the ways in which the recognition of St Edmund's House was a chapter in the history of liberalism, in the history of Roman Catholicism, in the history of education and in the history of secularism.

scholarly journals UKRAINIAN CATHOLIC RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS UNDER CONDITION OF THE RUSSIAN MILITARY AGGRESSION

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (50) ◽  
Author(s):  
Olha Vasylivna Vasilieva
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Structure ◽  
National Security ◽  
Catholic Church ◽  
Roman Catholic ◽  
Religious Organizations ◽  
Roman Catholic Church ◽  
Catholic Faith ◽  
Russian Military ◽  
Ukrainian Catholic

The organizational structure of the religious organizations of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church and the Roman Catholic Church in Ukraine is investigated in the article. The essence, directions, forms of activity of Catholic religious organizations in modern conditions of the Russian military aggression against Ukraine are analyzed. The peculiarities of the functioning of Ukrainian Catholic religious organizations on the occupied part of Donbas are characterized. The role of religious organizations of the Catholic faith in carrying out socially useful activities in Ukraine in the context of national security is highlighted.

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