Christian Group Speaks Out Against Bill That Could Force Employers to Cover IVF
The Christian Employers Alliance (CEA) has released a statement condemning the latest Senate bill that could force federal in-vitro fertilization coverage (IVF).
“We understand that [Senate] Members want to be supportive of those who would like to have a family,” CEA wrote in its statement emailed to CatholicVote. “This is a commendable goal; however, we should not do so at the expense of other significant principles that also matter, e.g., life, freedom from government overreach, and religious liberty.”
As CEA points out in its statement, the Hope Fertility Act introduced by Congresswoman Michelle Fischbach (MN-017) would mandate ERISA coverage of IVF, “further[ing] the cost of healthcare for all employers, and the premium costs for their employees.”
“At a time when families are already struggling to make ends meet with inflationary costs increasing, adding further burdens through federal mandates of IVF coverage is ill-advised,” the statement continued, adding that the costs of IVF would “explode,” if the federal government subsidizes it.
The Act would require employers to comply with a reporting system, and for the Secretary of Labor to report to Congress on the compliance or non-compliance of each business by name.
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Additionally, the legislation would not include religious freedom or conscience exemptions, CEA wrote, adding:
This Act would violate the conscience and religious beliefs of countless Christian-owned businesses who believe that life begins at conception, whether in the mother or a petri dish. The Act would be challenged as in the Hobby Lobby case, at substantial expense and years of litigation.
Since only seven percent of embryos result in a live birth, CEA noted, IVF opens the door to “a modern form of eugenics” that discards undesired infants based on factors such as skin and eye color, IQ, and sex.
“This is wholly unacceptable for those who count themselves as prolife,” CEA concluded.
LifeNews Note: Madalaine Elhabbal writes for CatholicVote, where this column originally appeared.
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