Bishops oppose Taiwan’s surrogacy bill, offer alternatives

TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The Chinese Regional Bishops' Conference (CRBC, 天主教會台灣地區主教團) took a firm stand against the surrogacy bill on Thursday (Dec. 19), proposing an alternative path. Emphasizing compassion and care, the CRBC is eager to partner with the government in promoting "NaProTECHNOLOGY," an innovative approach designed to assist couples facing infertility while minimizing the physical burden on women.

The bishops' conference emphasized the importance of women's autonomy and health rights, claiming an 80% success rate for infertile couples using "NaProTECHNOLOGY," surpassing artificial methods and easing financial burdens. The church's core values center on marriage between a man and a woman, advocating for procreation through natural union.

Addressing the surrogacy issue, the conference noted that many Western countries oppose it due to its broad implications and high social costs, negatively affecting national development. They cited problems like illegal immigration and abandoned children in countries where surrogacy is legal, urging Taiwan to follow the lead of these advanced nations.

The conference also called on the government to legislate effectively, simplify the adoption process, and improve social welfare institutions to encourage adoption by infertile couples or families with children. The Ministry of Health and Welfare (衛生福利部) is revising the Assisted Reproduction Act (人工生殖法), sparking public debate, leading to the Health Promotion Administration (國民健康署) announcing the decoupling of surrogacy on Dec. 2.