Pope Francis Doesn't Approve Of Surrogacy, Hopes To Ban The Practice Globally

Pope Francis has reiterated his stance on surrogacy, and even called for its universal ban.

The Head of the Catholic Church called the practice of carrying a child through a surrogate "despicable" during his 45-minute speech on January 8.

Pope Francis calls for universal ban of surrogacy

“I consider despicable the practice of so-called surrogate motherhood, which represents a grave violation of the dignity of the woman and the child, based on the exploitation of situations of the mother’s material needs,” the 87-year-old Pope said, as quoted by Associated Press.

Pope Francis mentioned that surrogacy enables the “commercialization” of pregnancy, as among the threats to global peace and human dignity.

In this light, he called for a ban on surrogacy, saying, he hopes to secure everyone's cooperation to prohibit the practice universally.

In 2022, Pope Francis called surrogacy as "inhuman." While addressing Catholic family groups in Europe, he said, "The dignity of men and women is also threatened by the inhuman and increasingly widespread practice of the 'rented uterus', in which women, almost always poor women, are exploited and children treated as commodities."

USCCB echoes Pope Francis: 'Surrogacy is not morally permissible'

On the same day, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops issued a statement, “As Pope Francis stated, with surrogacy, an unborn child is turned into ‘an object of trafficking’ because it exploits the birth mother’s material needs and makes the child the product of a commercial contract. This is why the Catholic Church teaches that the practice of surrogacy is not morally permissible. Instead, we should pray for, and work towards, a world that upholds the profound dignity of every person, at every stage and in every circumstance of life."

Altruistic vs. commercial surrogacy

There are two types of surrogacy: altruistic or commercial. The practice of surrogacy is illegal in Italy, Finland, Germany, and some states in the U.S.

Commercial surrogacy is banned in most countries that allow altruistic surrogacy, wherein the surrogate doesn't receive financial compensation. These countries include Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Cuba, Greece, Mexico, among others. 

Surrogacy has become an option for couples who are having difficulties to conceive, or same-sex couples who want to have their own children. It makes use of a surrogate, who will see the pregnancy through for another person or a couple. After birth, the couple who arranged the surrogacy will raise the child as their own, and even have their names on the child's birth certificate.

Surrogacy in the Philippines

In the Philippines, a bill regulating the conduct of Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) and surrogacy procedure in the Philippines was filed in the House of Representatives in May 2023. 

In a report by GMA News, Zamboanga City Representative Khymer Adan Olaso proposed the House Bill 8301, which aims to establish the ART and Surrogacy Regulation  Commission.

"Should this bill become a law, individuals can have the option to receive ART or surrogacy services within the country without the risks of traveling abroad. It is in the country’s best interest ensure the protection of every individual's reproductive rights," he said.