Bishops Daniel E. Thomas and Robert E. Barron have voiced strong opposition to President Donald Trump’s recent executive order aimed at making in vitro fertilization (IVF) more affordable and accessible. In a statement released Tuesday, the two leaders, who hold significant positions within the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), criticized the move for its ethical implications concerning the value of human life.
Bishop Thomas, who chairs the USCCB’s Committee on Pro-Life Activities, and Bishop Barron, who heads the Committee for Laity, Marriage, Family Life, and Youth, expressed concern that the IVF process often leads to the destruction of embryos, labeling it as a practice that dehumanizes individuals by treating them as commodities. They emphasized that many embryos are either discarded, frozen, or not selected for transfer, resulting in countless lost lives.
The bishops acknowledged the heartfelt desire of many couples facing infertility, calling it a deeply noble and understandable wish to have children. However, they argued that the Administration’s promotion of IVF fails to uphold the sanctity of life, standing in stark contrast to previous pro-life measures taken by the Administration.
“Each human life is inherently valuable, regardless of how that life was conceived,” Bishop Thomas stated. “Those born through IVF deserve the same respect and dignity as anyone else, but we cannot ignore the lives of those embryos who never get the opportunity to be born.”
The bishops expressed hope for future collaboration with the Administration to explore alternatives to IVF that respect human dignity. They suggested that restorative reproductive medicine could offer ethical solutions for infertility without resorting to the destruction of human life. However, they made it clear that they would firmly oppose any policy that would increase the practice of terminating embryos or force taxpayers to subsidize such actions.
In conclusion, while they support efforts to help couples struggling with infertility, Bishop Thomas and Bishop Barron emphasized that ethical treatment of life must be prioritized above all else.
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