Papacy Turns Back on Surrogacy
Dear Pope Francis,
Love thy Neighbor is one of the most powerful messages brought to us by Jesus Christ. I try to live my life according to this mantra, both personally and professionally.
In fact, my life includes being the father to two wonderful children brought into this world by two accomplished smart women who chose to be surrogates. These women had decided that their own families were complete and made the decision to help their neighbor, in this case their act of kindness brought my family to life. One of these women is a practicing Catholic. Both of them were working moms and financially stable. I am forever thankful and grateful.
As a fertility doctor who has helped thousands of families come to life over the years through surrogacy and in-vitro fertilization, I am asking that you broaden your understanding related to the many complex reasons people pursue surrogacy to help create a family; women with cancer, women born without a uterus, women with infertility, and women with recurrent pregnancy loss to name a few. I understand that your ban on surrogacy may be part of a much larger opinion that in-vitro fertilization (IVF) is also immoral. I can respect that opinion. I also respect the opinion and decision of millions of people worldwide who have used this technology for the past 40 years to bring over 8 million children into the world. With respect, your ban lacks the comprehensive understanding of the varying issues that are associated with surrogacy and perhaps the knowledge that in the United States women choose of their own free will to be surrogates out of a desire to help others.
As someone who truly respects the papacy, I know you would never intentionally harm others with your words or decrees. In this case your comments have and will cause harm, grief, guilt, and shame to practicing Catholics and non-Catholics alike. Shame not only to the women who make the choice to be surrogates, but also upon those who have worked with these women, and most importantly to the parents and the children brought to life through surrogacy. I would like to add that I respect and strongly agree with your desire to protect the exploited women in countries where surrogacy is unmonitored, unregulated, and not done ethically. In the United States the way surrogacy is practiced is not exploitative of women. Using such a broad stroke in your comment was unfortunate, misguided and reductive.
I would like an opportunity to share with you, in detail, the process that does occur in the United States where surrogacy journeys are completed under an umbrella of care by nurses, physicians, mental health professionals, attorneys, and passionate surrogacy professionals. There is a rigorous screening process to maintain the highest ethical standards that clears less than 3% of women who desire to be surrogates. In the United States there are no federal laws regulating surrogacy. However, in the states where surrogacy is legal, IVF clinics follow the guidelines of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine and are inspected bi-annually by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to protect the health and well being of all parties involved. I can attest that these processes are in place to help ensure the agreement between the surrogate and the future parents is built on good will and trust.
I know you are aware of the different voices and points of view on the surrogacy issue. I can bring to you a chorus of voices who are likely different from those that have given you counsel to broaden your perspective. In closing, please consider that to help someone bring a child into the world that began as a tiny embryo is perhaps the greatest gift one human can give to another; especially for women born without a uterus, women with cancer, and women who have suffered multiple pregnancy losses. You must consider this life-giving technology as a tool that our humanity has given us. On a daily basis I am in awe of what we can do with modern medicine.
Pope Francis, to give another human a child they can hold in their arms may represent the greatest example of loving thy neighbor.
I request an audience with you to share my insights.
Sincerely,
Mark Leondires, MD