Both groups of abandoned children result from injustice—grievous in the eyes of our God—and both demand redemption and reconciliation to be sought. However, when a couple looks to adopt a child, the option of embryo adoption is rarely considered compared to traditional adoption. Much of this has to do with the lack of knowledge surrounding embryo adoption, but because both options are biblical solutions to an injustice that man has created, both should be considered equally.
So, the question is posed: why should we consider embryo adoption alongside traditional adoption? Here are four reasons why embryo adoption should be considered:
1. Because Scripture & science have revealed to us that human life begins at fertilization, the life of an embryo is just as worthy of value as a child already born.
When applying the sanctity of life ethic, this extends equally to embryonic life, fetal life, and the life of children who have already been born. And because there is no hierarchy of quality of life that can be applied, the same justice should be extended to every stage of human life.
2. Because there are approximately the same number of abandoned children in cryopreservation as there are in foster care.
In the United States alone, there ranges anywhere from 700,000 to 1.5 million cryopreserved embryos. Many of these are still under the care of the biological parents, but a large portion have been abandoned or are available for adoption. This number is difficult to pinpoint due to the lack of laws surrounding the number of embryos that a couple can freeze at one time, a lack of documentation by clinics, and numerous other factors. But based on what we know, we can approximate a number that is comparable to the number of children available for traditional adoption.
3. Because the number of children in foster care has decreased over previous years, while the number of embryos in cryopreservation has increased.
Over the last four years, there has been a steady decline of the number of children in foster care.[1] This is an amazing feat, and much of this is due to the work of the church in their emphasis on adoption and foster care. However, compare this number to the increase in IVF procedures—and the subsequent number of frozen embryos—and we can see an immediate concern. Because science allows us to create human life outside of the procreative process, it enables couples to control when they have children, making technologies like IVF much more appealing.
4. Because embryo adoption is a financially viable option for the Christian, sometimes more so than a traditional adoption.
The process of adopting an embryo can range from $10,000-$15,000, while a traditional adoption tends to fall between the $30,000-$50,000. Finances should never be a driving force in any decision, but in cases between one life-honoring decision or another, cost can certainly help influence decisions to aid in stewardship of resources.
Embryo adoption should never supersede traditional adoption in importance for the church, and vice versa. No matter the life stage or location of a child, each person is made in the image of God and deserves justice equally. Even though adoption is not a cure for injustice on earth, it can act as a salve for this side of heaven, and we have the blessing of joining with God in this work of restoration.
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