How greatly and quickly issues are raised to the forefront of public attention, and then frequently all but disappear from our focus, is one of the mysteries of how current events and issues ebb and flow, especially during an election year. Most certainly, the mainstream media — panderers as they generally are to the permanent government — attempt to corrupt our understanding of crucial issues. Consequently, the topic of in vitro fertilization (IVF) has been the basis of quite a roller coaster ride over the last couple of weeks since the Alabama Supreme Court handed down an 8 -1 decision, correctly defining that embryos developed through IVF are — hold on to your hat — babies!
Politicians of every stripe started weighing in on the issue, all disagreeing with the Alabama Supreme Court decision, but not in accord regarding their reasoning. “Catholic” Joe Biden, commenting within hours of the decision, was furious as he declared that this was one more step in the erosion of “women’s health” and laid the blame squarely at the feet of the U.S. Supreme Court for overturning Roe v. Wade. Well, at least Senile Joe is consistent. Donald Trump, on the other hand, after a delay of three days, provided us with a tweet on X that was a confusing mixture of pro-life platitudes and ignorance about what really happens through IVF. He makes the astounding assertion that keeping IVF available is a “pro-life” issue:
The question must be asked: is former President Trump really that ignorant, or is it more likely that, like many people (even Catholics), he hadn’t really given the issue of IVF any in-depth thought until the Alabama Supreme Court decision. Let’s leave aside, for the moment, the constitutional issues of a Presidential candidate trying to dictate to states how to loosen restrictions on the mass murder of extra-uterine babies. We will save that constitutional discussion for a future posting.
Instead, let’s take a moment to thank Almighty God for the providential decision of the Alabama Supreme Court, which has brought the issue of IVF to the forefront of the national discussion during an election year. And the timing couldn’t have been better, as CPAC 2024 was getting ready to kick off in National Harbor, Maryland. One would think that the topic of IVF — such a current hot-button issue — would hold center stage at the CPAC conference, especially with Catholic Steve Bannon giving his fiery pep talk. Sadly, only one man had the courage to confront the issue of IVF head-on: Bishop Joseph Strickland — that same bishop who was removed unceremoniously from his diocese of Tyler, Texas by Bergoglio/Francis. What Bishop Strickland said during his keynote speech at the CPAC Ronald Reagan dinner was nothing less than a charitable schooling (and repudiation) of leaders who came down on the wrong side of the issue.
For many Catholics, especially “trads,” Bishop Strickland is somewhat of a mixed bag, with many devout Catholics being scandalized at his visit to the site of the alleged apparitions at Medjugorje, and his suggestion there that the apparitions were real. Leaving that aside, one can say that his frequent criticisms of Bergoglio’s actions and statements –both during his tenure as Bishop of Tyler and since — border on the heroic. He is not a man who is afraid to speak the Truth, that is clear.
The 17-minute talk Bishop Strickland gave at the CPAC dinner was most definitely not simply for the ears of those in attendance, but were intended especially for those who counsel leaders, encouraging them to view current events through the lens of timeless Christian tenets. At the 13-minute mark, after commenting on the unfinished fight against abortion, Bishop Strickland transitioned into the topic of IVF. For the next three minutes, often departing from his prepared text and showing the kind of evangelical fervor one expects from the successors of the Apostles, he laid out most clearly the Catholic teaching on IVF.
After a pensive pause, he began: “I have to address, as a Catholic pastor, the topic that is of today, of this moment.” The bishop, specifically citing Pope John Paul II’s encyclical, Donum Vitae, read from that document, then turned to the audience and appealed to his listeners — both at the dinner and those who would later read or hear of his words: “Brothers and sisters, we must be strong in the sanctity of life and all of its repercussions. I know that today’s controversies, many of us are not well-versed, but we must be.” Bishop Strickland then threw out a lifeline to candidates like Donald Trump who may have spoken out before educating themselves on the real and grisly aspects of IVF:
And we must guide our great politicians, those who we hope will serve this nation into a brighter future. We must guide them in the ethics of the sanctity of life. We can’t expect those busy people who are doing their best to fight the battle that we must face. We can’t expect them to do it alone. We must help them to be informed that the controversies that are presently in the news right now, this decision by Alabama’s court was correct.
According to our Catholic faith, we must stand strong and instruct these good men and women that are calling to lead us, and we need them to lead us. We must help them understand the intricacies of what science has done in playing God, and having children, embryos, embryonic children frozen and too easily disposed of. When the Alabama court says, no, we cannot dispose of these human beings, let us guide our politicians to know that truth.
We encourage you to listen to Bishop Strickland’s entire talk. But if you don’t have the time, we enjoin you at least to watch and listen to those three and one-half minutes of his IVF commentary. It is compelling, it is from the heart, and it is timely! We think you will agree with us that these well chosen words and the sense of urgency that the good bishop conveys, could well be, with our unceasing prayers, the spark that enlightens the consciences of those who wish to be our leaders. May Almighty God bring them to His Truth!
Tradidi Quod et Accepi 
This is a crucially important topic – I know of people in my own circle who have undergone IVF and now have twins as a result (with naturally conceived twins to follow – the mother was then rushed off her feet! I got away with my dry “Should have left it to God” on one occasion only. Thereafter stuck to expressing my delight at such bonnie babies!)
The very idea that IVF might be immoral results in bafflement. It is yet another area of morality which the clergy fail to address in sermons.
I’m disappointed to learn that Bishop Strickland has publicly supported the hoax Lady of Medjugorje. It seems to be the challenge of the century to find a priest or bishop who is 100% right-thinking about various hot potatoes, notably alleged apparitions.
Hi there! Just saw your post. Very interesting what’s going on in American politics. Happy to see Bishop Strickland speaking out, I didn’t have time to listen to his speech. I always find it interesting that it seems people don’t stop to think of the first immorality of IVF, other than willing to “play God”….it amazes me how many Catholics don’t seem to think about or mention that IVF starts by evil with the will to play God (step 1) just like contraception, and then (step 2) is that sperm retrieval is still overwhelmingly done through masturbation! So, we have mortal sin after mortal sin leading up to the mortal sins of embryo separation from the mother, freezing, possible disposal, etc of human beings! Through the years I’ve been amazed at “good” Catholics seeing no wrong in this.
I, too, am happy (very happy) to see Bishop Strickland speaking out about IVF but I am reminded of the situation which has pertained for years now, where a bishop only needs to say a word of support for the pro-life movement, denounces the gravity of the sin of abortion/murder, and people would be emailing me to say “crisis over! The bishop/cardinal said abortion is wrong! It’s in the papers!” It’s akin to being delighted that the local butcher promises poison-free meat in his shop – which is nothing more than we expect, surely.
I think, though, that Bishop Strickland has also rightly criticised Pope Francis for his errors, to that is great and he is to be commended for that. My expressed disappointment about his apparent support for Medjugorje is not intended to ignore the good he has done; still, who among us would accept a drink which contained even a drop of cyanide…
Me again – hope I’m not being a nuisance! I thought of this thread during a visit to Gloria TV a few minutes ago when I found this mention of Bishop Strickland regarding Akita, which, at one time I supported but have grown to doubt.
Bisthop Strickland recommends Our Lady of Akita – Gloria.tv
It seems odd that so many people, including some bishops, will point to various alleged (or even approved) apparitions but with no preferment for Fatima, which, in my humble opinion, is the only one that matters. Once we have Russia properly consecrated as Our Lady requested, peace will descend on the world and the Church. What is not to like?
Thank you for your comments, Patricia. Your insights are much appreciated and always welcome. It is strange that the message and requests of Our Lady of Fatima continue to go unheeded, while dubious apparitions are promoted. It is a sign of our times, perhaps, that we must recognize that few prelates and clergy are 100% solid.
Still, we had hoped that the venue in which Bishop Strickland tried to educate the leaders of the “conservative” and Republican camps would give these folks pause — would help them to understand that you can’t just publicly spout a knee-jerk reaction to an issue of such importance. Of all the American bishops, it was only Bishop Strickland who raised the issue in so public a platform. Donald Trump’s advisors certainly had to see it, as did the policy makers at the Republican National Committee, who had Senator Katie Britt double down (in her response to Joe Biden’s rant) on their mistake of pledging to “keep IVF available”. The dinner at which Bishop Strickland delivered his remarks was the big event of the Conservative Political Action Committee conference, and the place was full of MAGA supporters. Yet the bishop’s words appear to have fallen on deaf ears, as Republicans refuse to face the pro-life issues head on (while the bishops promote illegal immigration in their “pro-life” umbrella, so reminiscent of Bernardin’s “seamless garment” doctrine of the 80s and 90s).
Can Catholics vote for a candidate who has promised to “negotiate” for a national 15-week abortion “ban”? Can they vote for a man who publicly supports same-sex “marriage”? And now, can they vote for a man who wants to “make IVF available in all 50 states”? These are the questions we Catholics face here in America this year, and it may well be that the response is: “we’ll just sit this one out”. God bless you.
Agreed
Marinaio,
Thank you for your warm welcome – I always enjoy my “trips” to the USA blogosphere!
And I totally agree with you that it was great, and very important, that Bishop Strickland made good use of that particular venue and event to seek to educate all concerned about the key moral issue(s) – I did not mean to detract from that and I can see that my comments may, unintentionally, have done so.
I also agree that sometimes we just have to “sit it out” at election time. It’s been years now since I actually voted for any candidate. I spoil my paper by writing a message to the effect that I cannot support any candidate due to the Godless state of the nation. Each candidate has to see every spoilt vote and agree that it is a genuinely spoilt vote, so I never feel that I’ve wasted my vote. Indeed, I wish there could be a mass movement of people refusing to vote while leaving clear reasons for failing to endorse any of the politicians on offer.
And finally…
I’m still astounded to follow the persecution of Donald J. Trump. I believe – if only he had the Catholic Faith – that he really would turn America (and the rest of the western world) around. He has the strength of character and the energy – it’s only his skewed moral compass which prevents him from recognising the truth of these issues of morality.