Scrutable

Woodchopper wrote: Fri Mar 08, 2024 6:59 am The Catholic Church has always opposed IVF.

There are differences among Protestant churches with liberal ones (eg Episcopalians) being ok with it and some conservative being opposed, with a lot in the middle that don’t take a position. This article seems to suggest that some churches have become more opposed in recent years: https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2 ... n-beliefs/

However the last decent survey I can find is from 2013 and a lot has happened since then. https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/20 ... h-and-ivf/

It's worth mentioning that mainstream Judaism looks at much the same text (I don't think the new testament has much to say on this and other "laws" compared to the old, and also explicitly says that "laws" are defunct), and decides that life begins at first breath (as implied by Genesis 2).

So all of this is a choice, and not logical to start with. It also means that the position taken by extremists in the US of banning abortion, IVF etc. based on their religion is violating the spirit, if not the letter, of the first amendment.

So how bad is it going to get?

I think it’s going to be a nightmare.doi have Trump derangement syndrome?

Trump has done nothing in relation to federal restrictions on abortion - disappointing the believers. Probably because it is in general rather unpopular to do so, including in many "red", ie reliably Republican, states. Indeed several states have responded to the overturning of Roe vs Wade by specifically legalising abortion at state level (if that wasn't already the law there), including several red states, often through ballot initiatives. But there remain a fair number of states where that would be difficult, because they don't have a majority for it, or it would require a 2/3 majority which would be hard to get most places.

But some other red states, regardless of popularity, are having a go at the institutions that advise on and deliver abortions. The latest is Florida, which is suing Planned Parenthood for racketeering (MSNBC).