CV NEWS FEED // The Catholic Conference of Illinois has issued a statement opposing Illinois’s in vitro fertilization (IVF) advisory referendum, which will be on the state ballot for November.
The Conference reports that the referendum reads: “Should all medically appropriate assisted reproductive treatments, including, but not limited to, in vitro fertilization (IVF), be covered by any health insurance plan in Illinois that provides coverage for pregnancy benefits, without limitation on the number of treatments?”
The Conference states that although advisory referendums only ask the opinion of voters, and do not change the law, Catholics should still vote against the referendum.
While the Church recognizes the struggle of infertile couples, the Conference continues, “the path of IVF cannot be supported.”
“In vitro fertilization replaces the intimate act of procreation between a man and a woman in marriage, with an act that puts a medical professional in control of the creation and selection of which embryos ultimately will be given the potential to live or die,” the Conference explains.
“Those embryos not chosen for implantation are either frozen, used for experimentation, or terminated. IVF also opens the door to surrogacy and donation of eggs and sperm, further removing the gift of procreation from the marital act.”
The Conference’s statement also warns that the referendum opens the possibility of gene editing and human cloning, and does not provide protection for the rights of those religiously or morally opposed to IVF.
News outlet WGEM reports that Illinois Gov. Jay Robert Pritzker (D) already passed legislation on August 2 requiring all group insurance plans to cover “fertility treatments,” including IVF. The law will go into effect on January 1, 2026.
The referendum focuses on whether all providers who cover pregnancy should cover unlimited fertility treatments.
“This is about people,” said State Sen. Michael Hastings, D-Frankfort. “If you want to have a child through IVF, you should be able to have a child through IVF.”
WGEM also clarified that although the referendum does not change state law, it can set a precedent for future legislation or constitutional amendments.