The Suffering Caused ByInfertility in Marriage

The suffering of spouses whocannot have children or who are afraid of

bringing a handicapped childinto the world is a suffering that everyone must

understand and properlyevaluate.

On the part of the spouses,the desire for a child is natural: it

expresses the vocation tofatherhood and motherhood inscribed in conjugal

love. This desire can beeven stronger if the couple is affected by sterility

which appears incurable.Nevertheless, marriage does not confer upon the

spouses the right to have achild, but only the right to perform those natural

acts which are per seordered to procreation.|

A true and proper right to achild would be contrary to the child's

dignity and nature. Thechild is not an object to which one has a right, nor

can he be considered as anobject of ownership: rather, a child is a gift,

"the supreme gift"and the most gratuitous gift of marriage, and is a

living testimony of themutual giving of his parents. For this reason, the

child has the right, asalready mentioned, to be the fruit of the specific act

of the conjugal love of hisparents; and he also has the right to be respected

as a person from the momentof his conception.

Nevertheless, whatever itscause or prognosis, sterility is certainly a

difficult trial. Thecommunity of believers is called to shed light upon and

support the suffering ofthose who are unable to fulfill their legitimate

aspiration to motherhood andfatherhood. Spouses who find themselves in this

sad situation are called tofind in it an opportunity for sharing in a

particular way in the Lord'sCross, the source of spiritual fruitfulness.

Sterile couples must notforget that "even when procreation is not possible,

conjugal life does not forthis reason lose its value. Physical sterility in

fact can be for spouses theoccasion for other important services to the life

of the human person, forexample, adoption, various forms of educational work,

and assistance to otherfamilies and to poor or handicapped children."