I'm confused. What about embryos from fertility clinics, where there are more produced than necessary to achieve conception? Do we toss those? Sorry. I understand limiting in most circumstances, but if we are not opposed artificial conception, then why would we be opposed to doing something with the leftovers rather than wasting them?
The language you used here reveals much about modern reproductive freedom, which really isn't confined to abortion. "Leftovers"? "Wasting them"? Hard to believe we're talking here about unique human individuals, but that is exactly what we are talking about.
> "I'm confused. What about embryos from fertility clinics, where there are more produced than necessary to achieve conception? Do we toss those? Sorry. I understand limiting in most circumstances, but if we are not opposed artificial conception, then why would we be opposed to doing something with the leftovers rather than wasting them?" <
We should never have allowed them to be there, and we should prevent any new additions to those already present. I believe that we should require - and always should have required - a release from the parents to permit adoption of these orphans, just like other orphans not wanted by their biological parents.
I understand that extra embryos are created in the usual process, that many do not develop properly, and that implantation is frequently unsuccessful. So what? Give them the respect they deserve, and always have deserved since they became the unique creations they now are. If you need to make children this way instead of adopting and loving an existing child, give your own offspring the same opportunity to live. And if you can't stand the idea of your progeny living loving, and growing in another family, you are not mature enough to be a parent, anyway.
For me, there isn't much contradiction. I'm also opposed to IVF, for this very reason. Children are created, then just left frozen. BTW, did you know there are couples who would adopt those frozen embryos? It's happened in the past.