Pope Francis describes Surrogacy “Deplorable”

Pope Francis on Monday (8th January) referred Surrogacy “Deplorable” and calls for a ban on it. In a speech, Pope said that unborn children should be protected and not “turned into an object of trafficking” adding to previous criticism by Francis against surrogacy.

Pope’s Concerns about Surrogacy

During an annual foreign policy address, Francis described surrogacy motherhood as “deplorable” and called the international community to prohibit this practice globally. A child is “never the basis of a commercial contract.” The practice of surrogacy is a grave violation of human dignity by exploiting the mother’s material needs, he further asserted.

Pope criticized Western culture, saying this culture discards children, the elderly and the sick. He has criticized surrogacy in recent years on various occasions. According to him, this practice exploits women and it is against human dignity. Poor women and children are treated as commodities in this practice.

Earlier Pope gave his blessings to the same sex couple and same-sex couples who opt for surrogacy for parenthood he made clear that same sex parents who resort to surrogacy can have their children baptized.

Why is surrogacy controversial?

Surrogacy is the most debated and controversial topic with both supporters and critics have their reasons for supporting or opposing this. Critics say commercial surrogacy targets women who are poor and from vulnerable communities, having children is a beautiful process and its commercialization harms mainly poor women.

However, on the other hand, Supporters say that surrogacy gives women a chance to provide children to childless couples, and that commercial contracts protect both the surrogates and the intended parents, who otherwise miss the blessing of becoming parents. 

Ethical concerns are also raised regarding this practice the surrogate mother can develop an emotional attachment to the child who grew up in her womb, and there is no chance to meet the child to whom she gave birth which causes mental distress.

There are many ethical, and social questions related to surrogacy, it has been a matter of argument between supporters and protestors.