Catholic Bishops Oppose IVF Coverage but Back Diagnostic Fertility Benefits in Federal Rule

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops submitted formal comments opposing the inclusion of in vitro fertilization in a proposed federal rule on fertility benefits. Newsweek reported that the bishops sent a July 13 letter to federal regulators making the case.

The bishops stated that infertility is a serious medical condition deserving treatment but argued that IVF separates procreation from the marital act and results in the destruction or freezing of human embryos. They noted that many embryos created during IVF cycles never result in live births and that the process frequently involves selecting which embryos are implanted while others are discarded or frozen indefinitely.

The bishops argued that IVF does not treat infertility itself but bypasses underlying reproductive conditions.

They urged the administration to promote restorative reproductive medicine focused on diagnosing and treating conditions such as hormonal disorders, endometriosis, and polycystic ovary syndrome. The bishops praised portions of the proposed rule that would allow coverage for diagnostic services and treatments aimed at addressing root causes of infertility.

President Trump has repeatedly backed expanding access to IVF.

Newsweek reported that he won approximately 55 percent of Catholic voters in the 2024 election according to a Pew Research Center voter analysis released in 2025, while Kamala Harris received 43 percent. Catholics make up roughly one-fifth of the U.S. electorate.

Sixty-five percent of Catholics said IVF was a good thing in a Pew Research poll from 2024. A 2025 study found 83 percent of Catholics think the church should let couples use IVF, including 71 percent of those who attend church weekly.