The instruction on respect for human life in its origin and on the dignity of procreation, approved by John Paul II and issued on the Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter in answer to questions raised by the new reproductive technologies. Its three parts treat respect for human embryos, who are to be treated as persons from conception; interventions upon human procreation, distinguishing therapies that assist the conjugal act from techniques that substitute for it, and so judging in vitro fertilisation, surrogate motherhood and heterologous procedures; and the duties of civil law to protect the rights of the child, of marriage and of the family.