Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Feb 29, 2024 / 15:30 pm (CNA).
The Alabama House overwhelmingly approved a bill on Thursday that grants immunity to in vitro fertilization (IVF) providers in cases of death or injury to unborn babies during the IVF process.
The Republican-majority House passed the bill in a 94-6 vote just a week after the Alabama Supreme Court ruled that unborn babies conceived through IVF are human children protected under the state’s Wrongful Death of a Minor Act.
Introduced by Republican state Reps. Terri Collins and David Faulkner, the bill specifically bypasses the court’s reading of the Wrongful Death of a Minor Act and says that “no action, suit, or criminal prosecution shall be brought or maintained against any individual or entity providing goods or services related to in vitro fertilization.”
IVF is a fertility treatment in which doctors fuse sperm and eggs to create human embryos and implant them in the mother’s womb without a sexual act. Embryos that are intended to be implanted later are frozen. Undesired embryos are routinely destroyed or used for scientific research, which kills those preborn children.
The Catholic Church is staunchly opposed to IVF.
Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America and the Alabama Policy Institute issued a joint statement before the bill’s passage criticizing lawmakers for supporting legislation that they claim conflicts with pro-life principles.
“It is unacceptable [that] the Alabama Legislature has advanced a bill that falls short of pro-life expectations and fails to respect the dignity of human life,” the statement read.
“Alabama can do both: allow the continued practice of IVF with care for those suffering from infertility and respect life created through the IVF,” the statement continued. “We have full confidence that the same legislature that passed a law protecting the unborn throughout pregnancy will also take this crucial step to continue protecting all human life in keeping with the people of Alabama, who are ardently pro-life.”
The bill will advance to the Alabama Senate for further consideration.
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I think we need to do some research to determine why so many women are unable to conceive. My personal opinion (and it’s just my opinion!) is that women wait too long to get married and try to get pregnant. The older we get, the fewer eggs are left, and many of the eggs are flawed in some way. Also, women’s bodies age, and even though we have so many ways to stay healthy in the U.S., our bodies age in spite of exercise, healthy food, and healthy habits. Consider that teenagers don’t seem to have problems getting pregnant! I think we need to encourage “young marriage”, between early 20-somethings, and encourage these young couples not to wait until they are “established financially” before they start their families. Too many parents disapprove of and attempt to forbid teen romances and courtships, or even college romances and courtships and make it clear that before they even think about marriage, young women (and young men) need to get a good education, get established in a career that provides a good income and benefits, and also take some time to travel the world, write a novel, run a marathon, try out for the Olympics, campaign (and win!) for public office, and for Christians, do a missions trip or spiritual pilgrimage or public service with the Sisters of Charity in Calcutta!! Many women do not marry until their mid 30s! It’s no wonder they have troubles conceiving and carrying a child! My late husband and I started dating when we were 15 and married at 21–and enjoyed 41 years of wonderful marriage! Our one regret was that we didn’t have more children. I do realize and grieve that there are younger women who have issues with conceiving, but generally what we hear about are women in their mid to late 30s and 40ss who are seeking IVF. According to the Human Fertility and Embryology Authority (HFEA), the average age of women seeking IVF is 35.5 (in 2017).