In a bold move that challenges the mainstream Republican stance, Representative Matt Rosendale (R-Mont.) has publicly voiced his opposition to in vitro fertilization (IVF).
As reported by The Hill, Rosendale has displayed posters outside his office, expressing his disapproval of the procedure, which is widely supported by his party colleagues.
One of the posters quotes Rosendale saying, If you believe that life begins at conception as I do, there is no difference between an abortion and the destruction of an IVF embryo. This statement reflects his belief in the sanctity of life from conception, a cornerstone of conservative values. Another poster makes a startling claim: IVF destroys more lives than Planned Parenthood. This assertion is backed by data from the conservative Witherspoon Institute think tank and a Catholic News Agency article, which estimate around 700,000 fertilized IVF embryos are frozen, destroyed, experimented each year. In contrast, Planned Parenthoods 2022-23 report indicates it provided 392,715 abortions.
A spokesperson for Rosendale confirmed that the posters were put up on Thursday morning. Rosendale, in a statement, expressed his empathy for couples struggling with infertility but urged his colleagues to consider the ethical implications of IVF. My heart aches for couples who are struggling to conceive a child, but I humbly ask all of my colleagues to educate themselves on the practice of IVF and ask themselves if IVF actually aligns with their pro-life values, he said.
This is not Rosendale's first public stand against IVF. Earlier in the week, he proposed an amendment to a defense spending bill aimed at preventing the allocation of funds for IVF. However, this amendment was not made in order.
The issue of IVF has been thrust into the national spotlight following a ruling by the Alabama Supreme Court earlier this year, which declared embryos as children. This ruling sparked fear among IVF centers due to the potential repercussions of the standard process of discarding or destroying embryos. In response to this ruling, Senate Republicans have been vocal in their support for IVF, with every Senate Republican signing a pledge this month to strongly support continued nationwide access to IVF.
Despite his controversial stance, Rosendale has decided not to seek reelection and has withdrawn his Senate bid amid opposition from the National Republican Senatorial Committee, the GOPs Senate campaign arm. His decision to step away from office at the end of the year marks the end of a tenure marked by staunch adherence to conservative principles and a willingness to challenge the status quo.
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