On 28th April, 2023, news broke out on the latest reproductive crisis rocking the Netherlands. Judges had ordered a man who is suspected of using sperm donations to father more than 550 children to cease doing so.
A nonprofit defending the rights of donor children and the mother of one of the children who was reportedly fathered using his sperm brought the guy, 41, who was only identified as “Jonathan M.” in Dutch media, to court. According to Dutch clinical recommendations, a donor should not father more than 25 children in 12 households, but courts found that the man had contributed to the conception of 550–600 children since he began donating sperm in 2007. Judge Thera Hesselink stated that upon the entry of this judgment, the court “prohibits the defendant from donating his semen to prospective parents.” Additionally, Hesselink stated in a written ruling that Jonathan M. may not make contact with any prospective parents “with the wish that he was willing to donate semen… advertise his services to prospective parents or join any organization that establishes contact between prospective parents.” The judge ruled that if he continued to make donations, he would be subject to a 100,000 euro ($110,000) fine for violating the law as well as extra fines. Channels Television reports that Eva, the mother of one of the litigated children, expressed her gratitude to the court for stopping the man from making “mass donations that have spread like wildfire to other countries.” “Our children deserve to be left alone,” she said in a statement. “I’m asking the donor to respect our interests and to accept the verdict.” More than 100 of Jonathan M.’s children were born privately and at Dutch clinics, but the judge added that he also supplied semen to a Danish facility called Cryos, which sent his seed to private addresses throughout the world. The Hague District Court issued a supplementary statement in which it claimed that “the donor intentionally misled prospective parents about the number of children he had already fathered in the past.” “All these parents are now confronted with the fact that the children in their family are part of a huge kinship network, with hundreds of half-siblings, which they did not choose,” it said.
This situation highlights the ethical considerations and challenges posed by modern reproductive technologies, such as artificial insemination, which have led to the birth of millions of children worldwide. This case is not unique; for example, in the United States, there have been cases of sperm donors fathering more than 100 children, leading to concerns about genetic relatedness and the possibility of inadvertent consanguinity. The case also raises issues around informed consent and transparency, as some sperm donors intentionally or unintentionally mislead prospective parents about their prior donations and the number of children they have fathered. This situation underscores the need for examining what the Bible says on the topic.
Pitiably, it is to be noted that the Bible does not specify the number of children a couple should have. Most people in the Bible had unspecified number of children. Few of the ones mentioned decide their offsprings independently. Even the numbers of children King Solomon, with 700 wives and 300 concubines, was not specified, (1 Kings 11:1-3). Others whose number of offsprings were mentioned include:
1. King Rehoboam, 88 children (2 Chronicles 11:18-21)
2. Gideon, 70 sons (Judges 8:30)
3. King Ahab, 70 sons (2 Kings 10:1-11)
4. Jerahmeel, a descendant of Judah, 30 sons (1 Chronicles 2:26-28)
5. King Abijah, son of Rehoboam, 28 sons and 60 daughters (2 Chronicles 13:21)
6. King David, 19 sons and one daughter (2 Samuel 3:2-5, 13-16; 5:13-16)
As to the question of what the Bible says on semen donations, it must be admitted that the concept of semen donations is of modern medicine and assisted reproductive technology; and thus, the Bible does not directly address it as a specific issue. But it could be juxtaposed from the many relevant Bible references that the Bible upholds
1. Sanctity of human life
2. Sexual purity amongst couples
In other words, the Bible speaks of the importance of procreation within the context of marriage, with children being viewed as a blessing from God.
Most Christians have varying opinions on the ethics of semen donation depending on their interpretation of biblical teachings and personal beliefs. Some argue that semen donation violates the natural order of procreation and the unity of marriage, while others see it as a means of helping infertile couples or fulfilling a personal desire to procreate.
Ultimately, however, it is what can be inferred from the Bible that holds sway. Definitely, no adulterer will make it to heaven. Adultery means voluntary sexual intercourse between a married person and a person who is not his spouse. According to Luke 16:18, “Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and whosoever marrieth her that is put away from her husband committeth adultery.”
In this context, therefore, adultery could be said to have taken place when the semen of a married man crosses over to a woman other than his spouse.
Some Christians may have ethical concerns about semen donation, particularly in cases where it involves the use of a donor who is not the husband of the woman receiving the semen. This can raise questions about the nature of parenthood and the sanctity of human life. For instance, how do you explain the case of a child being anonymously fathered by the donated semen of his biological grandfather?
This is “The Sperm Donor Grandfather” case, which was reported in 2018. It involved a woman who used her father’s sperm, which he had donated decades earlier, to conceive a child via artificial insemination. As a result, the child was genetically related to both the woman’s father and her husband.
This case raises a number of ethical, legal, and emotional issues. One of the main concerns is the potential for consanguinity, or the risk of genetic disorders resulting from close family relationships. In this case, the child has a higher risk of inheriting genetic disorders that are common in the family, such as heart disease or certain types of cancer.
Another concern is the potential emotional impact on the child, as they may feel a sense of confusion or stigma about their unique family situation. They may also struggle with issues related to identity and belonging, as they are biologically related to their grandfather as well as their father.
From a legal standpoint, the use of a sperm donor’s sperm without their explicit consent raises questions about reproductive rights and autonomy. It also raises questions about the legal rights and responsibilities of the biological grandfather in relation to the child.
Overall, the case of the sperm donor grandfather highlights the complex ethical and legal issues that can arise in the field of reproductive medicine and underscores the necessity of placing a complete ban on these practices as they are not in conformity with the Word of God.
