In a catastrophic and dangerous decision by the Alabama Supreme Court on February 16th, the implications of which could end IVF (in vitro fertilization) pregnancies in the state, an 8-1 majority of Republican justices ruled “unborn children” are to have rights equivalent to those of a child. The opinion, issued in a wrongful death suit filed by two families following the accidental destruction of four embryos in the Alabama Center For Reproductive Medicine and Mobile Infirmary Association, will have far-reaching effects and has already begun curbing access to those suffering from problems with infertility – roughly 10% of the population nationwide, according to the National Institute of Health. “It’s sick!” said Freshman Levi Hollands. “Alabama does have a history of bad politics, so it’s unsurprising.”
An extension of the controversial Dobbs decision taking away the right to abortion and overturning Roe versus Wade in 2022, this is yet another instance in which the government takes away bodily autonomy, especially from women, in the United States. Freshman Obi Nunn agrees: “It really is kind of like abortion; it [the embryo] isn’t even viable – why should it have the same rights as living human being?” Additionally, it is an entirely futile discussion point – will these embryos be wards of the state if an IVF cannot be done, in which their meals are paid for by the state? While the anthropomorphization of 2-8-week-old cell clusters may warrant more argument than that of a given object, certainly, in the next Census, the roughly 1.5 million frozen embryos in the U.S. will not be counted as part of the population. Most importantly, this jeopardizes the ability of many in Alabama to access parenthood, which IVF gave them hope for.
While in and of itself a harmful ruling, the writer of the concurring opinion, Chief Justice Tom Parker, is perhaps the most concerning – his theological pathos, citing scripture and arguing that “… life cannot be wrongfully destroyed without incurring the wrath of holy God.” Even if the ruling were different, such incorporation of religion in the judiciary and government is directly at odds with the Church and State doctrine and directly threatens the freedoms upon which the United States of America is based. His comments outside the courtroom are also deeply concerning, with Parker referencing on a broadcast his belief in Seven Mountains Dominionism, a movement calling for Christian influence in seven parts of American existence: government, education, media, business, family, religion, and entertainment.
As a nation, we need to rally against these first steps towards the creation of a freedom-less theocracy.
