‘Check surrogate motherhood’| Cathnews India

‘Check surrogate motherhood’

Published Date: March 12, 2010

Tags: human values, In vitro fertilization, lay leader, surrogate motherhood

As India emerges as world leader of surrogacy for gays and others, a Christian leader wants the nation make effective laws to check science exploiting poverty with no regard for human values.

Surrogate parenting is a booming industry in India, and in recent years the ranks of childless foreign couples have been swelled by gay partners looking for a low-cost, legally-friendly path to parenthood, reports French news agency AFP.

In the United States, laws governing adoption and surrogacy vary from state to state, while in India the service is legal, loosely regulated and — so far at least — non-discriminatory on grounds of sexual orientation.

Surrogacy Abroad, which specializes in finding surrogate mothers in India has a growing number of gay couples on its client roster, the agency said. It bills each couple around 20,000 dollars, including medical charges and the payment for the surrogate who receives around 8,000 dollars.

India IVF (In vitro fertilization) clinics claim a high success rate as doctors are allowed to implant five embryos into the uterus at one time. In many other countries, such as Britain, only two implants are allowed.

According to the Indian Surrogacy Law Centre, a legal firm based in the southern Indian city of Chennai, opportunities for gay couples to find surrogate mothers overseas have grown substantially.

“South Africa is now advertising access to such surrogacy, but India has the highest volume because procedures here are simple and more affordable than other countries,” said G.R. Hari, a partner in the legal firm.

Critics warn that the lack of effective legislation governing surrogacy — whether for gay or heterosexual couples — encourages “rent-a-womb” exploitation of young, poor Indian women.

“Where will all this end? Surrogate farming in poorer countries has implications of human trafficking,” said John Dayal, secretary general of the All India Christian Council.

The council is particularly concerned that foreign gay couples figure increasingly on the client lists of Indian IVF clinics.

“The Church is clear that marriage and parenthood are Sacraments and they are valid only for those in natural union which is husband and wife,” Dayal said.

Source: Gay couples find surrogate mothers in India

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