If the motivation of those who encourage embryo adoption is to improve human life, the practice seems like the least effective way to go about it

The trend among childless couples to adopt embryos may seem like a positive cultural development at first, but looking at what’s really involved shows that this practice isn’t as pro life as proponents would like people to believe. Even though evangelical groups have spent over 21 million dollars promoting this practice as a charitable service over the past 10 years, both the Catholic Church and the Universal Life Church have come out against the adoption of embryos for several different reasons.

The Universal Life Church doesn’t take issue with the evangelical belief that embryos are people in their own right. As an interfaith church the ULC respects the notion of person-hood that many evangelicals feel is part of their faith. The ULC takes issue with the fact that the adoption process often means choosing the healthiest embryo and discarding the rest. This seems to be at odds with the pro life philosophies of many religious groups, and if you are compelled to adopt an embryo on the grounds of person-hood, it does seem immoral to destroy the lives of the embryos that are not chosen for adoption. The Universal Life Church feels that proponents of this option have not given enough consideration to other choices.

Many actual children are in great need of adoptive parents who can provide them with food, love and safe shelter. Couples who feel compelled to adopt should consider children who otherwise might end up spending their childhoods in orphanages or in questionable foster care homes. It only makes sense for couples who want to raise a family to choose a child that is already thinking and feeling rather than a zygote. Couples who feel as if they are doing something charitable by adopting an embryo should understand that they can help many children who are already born and greatly improve their quality of life. Adopting an embryo doesn’t alleviate suffering in the least.

If you believe embryos deserve the same moral considerations as a person, it seems that the embryos that are discarded in favor or bigger, healthier ones have just as much right to that person-hood status. It doesn’t make sense that anyone who values life from the moment of conception could support and encourage this practice, much less pour millions of dollars into promoting it. The Catholic Church itself has all but banned this and considers it far from being pro life.

Prospective adoptive parents should be made aware that other choices exist that are more realistic and that actually do alleviate the suffering of children due to not having adequate homes. Adopting embryos may seem like a good idea initially, but won’t really reduce a child’s suffering and pain.