The bill, passed by both houses of Poland's bicameral parliament, the Sejm and the Senate, is currently awaiting the president's signature.
In a letter to Duda, Gądecki wrote, "I kindly request that you refuse to sign the bill of November 29, 2023, amending the law on healthcare services financed from public funds and refer it to the Sejm for reconsideration or refer it to the Constitutional Court."
The archbishop emphasized the Catholic Church's stance on IVF, describing it as "experimentation on the human being" and inconsistent with the natural process of human life.
Gądecki cited various arguments against IVF, including the moral aspect of procreation and the right of a child to be conceived naturally. He referenced an encyclical by Pope John Paul II that deems artificial reproduction techniques morally unacceptable.
The archbishop also highlighted the distinction between the desire for a child and the ethical considerations of IVF.
"A child is always a gift, and spouses do not have the right to have children, but only the right to undertake such natural acts which are themselves attributed to the transmission of life," he stated.
Acknowledging the challenges of infertility, Gądecki proposed the creation of a national program for infertility treatment, claiming that medical solutions offer a better chance of giving birth to a healthy child than artificial procedures.
The bill's proponents argue for state funding of IVF due to its high costs and limited accessibility. The proposed law outlines a minimum budget allocation of PLN 500 million annually for an infertility treatment program, including IVF.
(jh/gs)
Source: PAP