by Rev. Dr. Aric Fenske, Executive Director of Lutherans For Life
While we applaud President Trump’s efforts to increase the number of babies being born, we at Lutherans For Life stand behind our position objecting to the use of In Vitro Fertilization. (See Position Statements of Lutherans For Life.)
Our hearts certainly ache for those who desire to have children and yet have not been able by God’s grace to physically bear them. However, we must recognize that the current practice of IVF is ethically problematic on several grounds and is not life affirming.
The fertility drugs which the President has worked to offer at a lower cost to women have proven to be dangerous to women. Additionally, the practice of IVF often violates the one-flesh union of husband and wife which God ordained for the procreation of children. Finally, the current practice of IVF leads to the wanton destruction of thousands of children, as many embryos deemed unfit for the process are destroyed, and many more unused embryos (children) remain frozen, sometimes indefinitely.
We continue to maintain that every child conceived, including those conceived via IVF, are precious to God and worthy of every dignity. Likewise, the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ covers all sins, and every parent who knowingly or unknowingly may have destroyed life through IVF should know that their sins have been atoned for. But we simply cannot agree with or condone this new policy from President Trump.