Practical Questions Concerning Embryology

The practical questions which occur in the pastoral ministry and regard Embryology appear to be of a twofold kind: some immediately regard Embryology itself; others have a special relation to the ministration of the sacrament of Baptism. Yet all these cannot be rightly understood unless altogether accurate physiological notions are sufficiently present. Hence, in the proemium of this little work, from the natural sciences we briefly add a general description concerning the mode in which the fetus is developed, lives in the maternal uterus, and is born from it; just as we also recall to mind the principles of moral theology from which the solutions of diverse cases in practice are to be sought.

Moreover, the questions to be treated can be reduced to the following:

I. Questions regarding embryology itself:

1. Physiological notions concerning the uterine life of the fetus and its development and birth;
2. Concerning the theological principles to be invoked in embryological questions;
3. Concerning incisions which injure the mother;
4. Concerning embryotomy, or concerning incisions which injure the fetus;
5. Concerning the procuring of abortion;
6. Concerning artificial premature birth;
7. Concerning ectopic or extrauterine fetuses.

II. Embryological questions which have relation to the ministration of Baptism:

1. Concerning theological principles regarding the matter of Baptism;
2. Concerning theological principles regarding the form of Baptism;
3. Concerning the baptizing of the unborn in the uterus of the mother;
4. Concerning the baptizing of immature fetuses;
5. Concerning the baptizing of monsters;
6. Concerning those to be rebaptized under condition.