By Val and Deacon Gary Streff
Special to the Herald
Last month, we attended the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Respect Life Conference in Washington, D.C. It was a great time meeting with other Respect Life directors across the United States.
The topics presented by panel experts included abortion, physician-assisted suicide, teen suicide, in-vitro fertilization, surrogacy, miscarriages and transgenderism ideology. These issues are challenging, but as Catholic Christians, we are pilgrims of hope. Hope is the ability to see that good things are possible amid difficulties.
Abortion: When Roe v. Wade was overturned in 2022, eliminating the federal constitutional right to abortion and leaving the decision up to individual states, many states began closing their abortion clinics. Today, six states have banned abortion entirely, while others have restricted abortion access; meanwhile, states like Hawaii have abortion rights protected under their state constitution. Abortion has taken on a new direction from surgical abortions at clinics to chemical abortions at home via telehealth and mail-order prescriptions.
Physician-assisted dying: At the conference a few states were awaiting their courts’ decision on whether physician-assisted dying, also known as MAID (medical aid in dying), would be legalized. Hawaii is one of 11 states, along with Washington, D.C., that have legalized MAID.
Walking with Moms in Need: The program is celebrating its fifth anniversary. It was launched in Hawaii on Sept. 8, 2022 — the feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Catholic dioceses across the country have put the Gospel of life into action by having baby showers and baby diaper drives, recognizing pregnancy centers and creating homes for pregnant mothers.
The Mary Jane Home in Hawaii under Catholic Charities Hawaii offers a unique housing and educational opportunity to pregnant women who need a safe and affordable place to live during their pregnancy. The staff provides education in baby care and prepares mothers for job opportunities.
An interesting topic was “safe haven baby boxes” — boxes at fire stations that ensure the safe, anonymous surrender of infants. The boxes are found in 12 states, with Colorado possibly becoming the 13th. Hawaii could use these boxes — if someone is interested in promoting and spearheading this project.
Infertility: It is a growing issue among women trying to conceive a child. Marriage is oriented toward the good of the spouses to love and create a new human life (“Gaudium et spes,” No. 48). However, that is not possible for many who have experienced miscarriages or stillbirths, or are simply not able to have a child.
Many women have turned to in-vitro fertilization (IVF) or surrogacy as the last attempts to have a child.
In the IVF process, a woman’s ovaries are hyper-stimulated through medication to yield multiple eggs, which are then harvested and fertilized with sperm in a laboratory.
According to Dr. Paul Carpentier, director and family physician at the Gianna Center for Women’s Health and Fertility in New York, “A woman will usually produce an average of 10 to 12 eggs during a treatment. Once fertilized, one or two of the embryos will be implanted in the womb with the intention that it will grow full term.”
Some of the remaining embryos will be frozen for future use via cryopreservation and other decisions will be made regarding the rest.
We encourage men and women to seek doctors and nurses trained in restorative reproductive medicine — one method is called “NaPro Technology,” or natural procreation technology — via telehealth and in person. Hawaii doesn’t currently have a NaPro doctor, but more information regarding the technology is coming soon.
Surrogacy is when a couple chooses someone else (a third party) to carry the embryo to full term.
According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, both IVF and surrogacy are viewed as grave violations of human dignity. Surrogacy exploits vulnerable women and dishonors the dignity of the human person as well as a child’s right to be born and raised by their own parents; it also treats the child as a commodity rather than a gift from God. (IVF also will use a third-party donor from a sperm bank or ovary bank if the sperm or egg of a parent is inadequate).
As we migrate through a plethora of situations, we are pilgrims of hope, believing in God’s overflowing mercy, grace and love. As we respect, protect, love and serve life, we will find love, freedom, peace and happiness. Please volunteer in ministries that promote life!
For more information and for details on workshops and meetings, contact Deacon Gary Streff and Valerie Streff at the diocesan Respect Life Ministry: gstreff@rcchawaii.org, vstreff@rcchawaii.org or (808) 673-3074.