U.S. bishops urge ‘ethical alternatives’ to IVF following Trump executive order

The chairman of the U.S. bishops’ pro-life committee and chairman of the committee for laity, marriage, family life, and youth criticized the new Trump administration order expanding in vitro fertilization (IVF) access.

Bishop Daniel Thomas of Toledo, Ohio, and Bishop Robert Barron of Winona-Rochester, Minnesota, released a joint statement issued by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops opposing the president’s order and urging more humane options for infertility.

“As pastors,” the bishops said, “we see the suffering of so many couples experiencing infertility and know their deep desire to have children is both good and admirable; yet the administration’s push for IVF, which ends countless human lives and treats persons like property, cannot be the answer.” 

The executive order calls for White House advisers to submit policy recommendations to protect access to IVF and to reduce its out-of-pocket costs.