Dear Friends in Christ,

According to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), the preeminent issue facing us as Americans is respecting and protecting life, from conception all the way to natural death. Currently, a serious concern for all faithful Catholics is the aggressive manner in which in vitro fertilization (IVF) is being promoted at the federal and state level.

First of all, briefly, what is IVF? In vitro fertilization is a medical procedure that involves fertilizing an egg with sperm outside the body, typically in a laboratory dish. The fertilized egg, now called an embryo, is then transferred to the uterus with the aim of achieving pregnancy. (Cleveland Clinic) While the end result might be a baby, a baby who has all the rights and dignity of a child of God, the means to that end are gravely sinful. During the procedure, numerous fertilized eggs, human beings, are destroyed or left in a frozen state and the natural unitive and procreative act of the couple, the marital embrace, is completely avoided.

While the new administration has taken many laudable pro-life measures, they are currently pushing for more access to IVF. On February 18, 2025, President Trump signed an Executive Order expanding access to in vitro fertilization (IVF) for Americans. Currently in South Carolina, both the Senate and the House have nearly identical bills entitled “The In Vitro Fertilization Protection Act.” This bill would say that a human embryo is not a person.

Infertility is indeed a heavy cross, one that is hard for infertile couples to carry. The USCCB acknowledged this and issued the following statement: “As pastors, 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,” IVF Destroys Human Life, Bishops Urge Ethical Alternatives, February 20, 2025.

As faithful Catholics, we must understand this issue and act to preserve and protect life. Accordingly, I have invited Dr. Murray Daw, Dean’s Distinguished Professor at Clemson University, to speak on “IVF and the Natural Law: Understanding Church Teaching.” His talk will be on Wednesday, March 12 at 6:00pm, in the Blessed Carlo Acutis STEM Center’s Lecture Hall. Please put this on your calendar and plan to attend.

To sum up, “IVF is a radical attack on the core relationship between a husband and wife in particular and against marriage in general.” ~Dr. Murray Daw

St. Gianna Beretta Molla, pray for us!

All the best … in Christ,
Fr. Wilson

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