Georgia is about to take the Pro-Life/Stem Cell argument to a place that could result in backlash of epic proportions. The Washington Post lays out what’s happening.
Last Thursday, the Georgia House passed a bill that declares embryos are children and therefore can be adopted. Meanwhile, the Georgia Senate passed a bill that defines a living human embryo as a person and prohibits the destruction of an embryo for any reason, such as scientific research.
Critics say the bills would criminalize stem cell research — and possibly abortion — in Georgia. Supporters say its an effort to respect and preserve life.
Embryos are children and therefore can be adopted? By who? Anyone? And if the biological parents don’t want their “extra” embryos adopted then will their only choice be an eternal deep freeze? Does this scenario strike anyone else as a cross between an X-Files episode and a bad Danielle Steel novel?
It also strikes me that taking on IVF programs is a huge mistake for Pro-Life groups. They so don’t want to go there. In fact, in the past they have gone out of their way to avoid the pesky IVF surplus embryo conundrum because they knew it was a losing argument in the court of public opinion.
And, yet, here they are, jumping into a fight with people desperate to create life. I hope they realize they’ll need a new playbook because I’m not seeing how calling IVF recipients baby killers is a winning strategy. This is shaping up to be a Life vs Life fight, and one I think needs to be waged. The Pro-Life’s avoidance of the IVF medical waste issue has always smacked of hypocrisy by placing condemnation solely on the destroyed embryos of abortions while turning a blind eye to the destroyed embryos of people desperately trying to have a baby.
These bills are the opening shot across the bow of IVF – Which I’m not sure is the fight Pro-Lifers intended to pick when crafting these rushed, ridiculously transparent (anti-abortion) bills. But, intended or not, Georgia has thrown the first punch.