Church of Greece supports IVF but not abortions

The Church of Greece’s Holy Synod said Thursday that it supports couples having IVF treatment but is against mothers aborting their babies, regardless of whether the children have been diagnosed as having physical or mental problems.

Bishop Nikolaos of Mesogeia and Lavreotiki said that the Church does not oppose legally married couples seeking fertility treatment. “For us, the red line is the destruction of embryos, the termination of the pregnancy and the upsetting in the balance of the couple’s relationship.”

Nikolaos went on to stress that the Holy Synod would not give its blessing for abortions of children with health issues. “These cases are difficult to deal with but we must not bow to the earthly logic that seeks to cure the embryos by denying them life violently and prematurely,” he said.