There is very strong opposition to surrogacy in Russia; several criminal cases are pending here involving the providers, accused of the trade of children and other illegal activities. The State Legislative Assembly is about to prohibit surrogate pregnancy to foreigners altogether. It should be noted, however, that any solid judicial ground for such measures can be obtained only when human life is protected by law from conception.

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Surrogate pregnancy, or surrogacy, is a reproductive technology by which a child, conceived artificially or naturally, is carried and delivered by a woman (called a surrogate mother) and then given away to someone else, so-called intended parent. Legal and medical provisions of this procedure differ widely from nation to nation, from being absolutely prohibited to allowed with no restrictions or regulations. 

Who would need this procedure? - On the surface, there are families suffering from diverse forms of infertility, more and more common in our days: advocates of surrogate pregnancy may have a point by claiming the procedure is a remedy for them.

Other interested parties, unfortunately, are far less benign: in liberal jurisdictions homosexuals pose as “intended parents” which secure the children born via surrogacy a grim fate of growing up in pervert environment. Still others procure newborn babies for a hideous purpose of selling them on the black market of organ transplants.

The Russian Orthodox Church takes with this regard a consistent position, calling for a complete ban on surrogacy. The reasons for that demand can be summarized as follows:

• It tramples upon the gift of procreation, bestowed by God on mothers in  marriage. “She shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and love”, - says the Apostle (1Tim.2:15), for God is love and motherhood is love also. Thus, childbirth becomes a precious means of salvation once it is an act of sacrificial love - while surrogacy makes it a commercial deal.

• It is especially harmful for a surrogate mother, depriving her of human dignity. Committing herself in love to the newborn child is conspicuously symbolized by an image of Mary with Child Christ - while surrogacy makes him a commodity, just like a farrow born to a sow.

• If surrogate pregnancy is not banned completely, it becomes a lure for criminals, using newborn babies as a supply of organs for transplantation.

• It amounts to selling and buying human beings. This point could be seemingly objected by saying that the intended parents are purchasing a service from the surrogate mother, not the child; motherhood, however, is an absolutely unique “service of procreation”, such that its fruit may not be expropriated under any formal provision short of a court decision. 

Further objections can be raised by an assumption that the child is conceded to the intended parents under no duress, no formal obligation, freely, even without any financial provisions.  Indeed, there are numerous cases when parents give up their children, including newborn, to other families, often childless, often well-to-do... That’s perfectly true, but with a “minor” correction: there is nothing “surrogate” in this, just plain and simple adoption. 

If this is what the whole surrogacy affair boils down to, there is nothing to argue about, no need to implement any new legislation. Inasmuch the society has a vested interest in the well-being of children, any adoption provision is subject to approval by Probate and Family Administration which (under normal conditions, to be sure!) will never let a child fall in the hands of a sexual pervert or be taken apart for organs. 

Deputy chairman of the  Moscow Patriarchate Department for relations with the society and the media Mr. Vakhtang Kipshidze offers his comments on the baptism of children born via surrogate pregnancy. Surrogate new-born babies are not at all worse or better than other children. However, the Church can baptize them only after the repentance of those who made a decision on surrogacy.

"This position is based upon the fact that parents wishing to have their child baptized cannot but share a moral standpoint of the Church, which considers such reproductive choice to be morally unacceptable” - said Mr. Kipshidze.

Thus, there is no reason to think that the Christian Orthodox Church holds an across-the-board opposition to reproductive technologies. An acceptable medical assistance in case of infertility, according to the Church, is artificial fertilization by husband’s germ cells: 

It does not ruin the marriage integrity, makes just a slight difference from natural fertilization and takes place in the context of marital relationships, - explained the Church spokesman.

It is worth reminding, that since over two hundred years ago then-Christian nations have established a total ban on trade of human beings; a slave ship captain apprehended on high seas ought to have been hung on the yardarm. Yet in the XXI century we witness business as usual.

There is very strong opposition to surrogacy in Russia; several criminal cases are pending here involving the providers, accused of the trade of children and other illegal activities. The State Legislative Assembly is about to prohibit surrogate pregnancy to foreigners altogether.

It should be noted, however, that any solid judicial ground for such measures can be obtained only when human life is protected by law from conception.

Follow us! - Telegram, Twitter, Gab, and Reddit. More great content, memes, commenting and community not available on this site.

We are also on Facebook and Instagram which have been designated terrorist organizations by the Russian government.