Challenge of Catholic Social Teaching

The social teaching that I find particularly difficult is "Life and Dignity of the Human Person." I have trouble with this teaching because it states that human life is sacred, but then continues to be against practices like In Vitro Fertilization because the "value " of human life is threatened. I can't see how the value of life is threatened by the creation of human life. For example, if a married couple really wants to have children but is physically unable because of past circumstance, and something like IVF gives them the opportunity to do that, they will value and love that child more than a married couple who unintentionally gets pregnant. This is especially difficult because for me personally, I wouldn't be alive if it weren't for IVF, so I cannot agree with something that is against how God put me on this earth. God would not have given humans the knowledge to do this if he didn't intend for life to be created this way. The value of human life is not decreased through this practice, I would argue that it is actually increased. If this teaching is against things like abortion, and giving people the right to life, it should not be against practices where life is created, no matter how it is done. How can a Church that is pro-life, be against new life being made? Just food for thought.

Interview Protocol

1. Invisible Children has been around since 2004 when the first video was released. How did you first hear about and get involved with Invisible Children?

2. Invisible Children uses many videos to capture the attention of the people, and uses stories of children to help their cause. What about Invisible Children really got to you?

3. How would you describe Invisible Children's effect on the communities in Uganda it has provided for?

4. For our project we learned about the Catholic Social Teachings. One of these is called “Rights and Responsibility”, in short it means that since we have the right to live, we also have the responsibility to give others the same chance to live out their lives. How do you see Invisible Children living out this teaching in terms of helping child soldiers?

5. Sydney told me you were able to get a screening of one of the Invisible Children videos at your school. What motivated you to do this? 

6. With something like this, you must have seen some adversity. Was it difficult to start all of this, and could you explain the process?

7. What kind of support did you receive from friends and family?

8. With such a powerful movement, others are bound to be interested in doing something similar. What would you say to someone who wanted to do the same thing you did? Would you recommend it?