No Mr. McConchie, IVF is Not Adultery: Letter to the Patch

By Sharon Langlotz-Johnson

Having struggled through years of In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) treatments, paying thousands of dollars, enduring shots, medications, and the emotional letdown each month, which was followed by two miscarriages, I am always happy to hear of another’s success, though always a bit jealous. Having a child is a great gift. Unfortunately, it will forever elude me.

While reading up on local State Senate candidate Dan McConchie, I discovered an article he wrote for The Gospel Coalition, (https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/what-to-consider-before-using-reproductive-technologies). This article is so offensive to every man or woman who has ever been involved in the IVF process. He writes of IVF, “Accusations of unfaithfulness can result because, in a real, genetic sense, one of the spouses has had a child with another person.”

He also says, “These and other difficulties flow from violating the ‘one flesh’ model of marriage in Scripture, in which children are literally to be the result of the two married parents (and their eggs and sperm) becoming ‘one flesh.’” He even states, “The money could go towards meeting another great need.” As a Christian, it’s upsetting that someone would try to use Scripture as a rationale to prevent a married couple from conceiving a child through IVF.

To know there are people with this mindset running for the office of State Senate is frightening to me. A woman and man’s right to conceive children should not be dictated by this type of mindset and it causes me great distress that this man might attempt to bring forward some form of legislation to prevent the use of IVF if he were elected. A woman’s right, and ability, to bear children should not be prevented by this type of thinking. Vote for someone who will promote woman’s rights, vote NO on McConchie.

Sharon Langlotz-Johnson is a Palatine resident.