FMC Founder Stephanie Levich Responds to Pope Francis’ Call for a Surrogacy Ban
Stephanie Levich Responds to Pope Francis’ Surrogacy Comments
In January 2024, Pope Francis called for a global ban on surrogacy, describing the practice as exploitative and calling for it to be prohibited worldwide.
PEOPLE spoke with Family Match Consulting founder Stephanie Levich and other surrogacy professionals about the comments and what a broad prohibition could mean for the people who rely on surrogacy to build their families.
While expressing respect for the pontiff, Stephanie told PEOPLE that she found the comments “disappointing and shortsighted.”
“For me, this is a matter of personal autonomy and choice and women having the ability to make decisions for themselves and their families,” she said.
Ethical Surrogacy Includes Meaningful Safeguards
The conversation highlighted an important distinction that can be lost in broader debates about surrogacy: ethical, professionally supported surrogacy involves extensive safeguards intended to protect everyone involved.
Stephanie explained that reputable surrogacy arrangements include significant vetting before a match moves forward. Intended parents and surrogates also work with professionals throughout the process, including fertility clinics, mental health professionals, attorneys, agencies and other specialists.
These safeguards matter. They help ensure that surrogates are making informed decisions, that intended parents understand their responsibilities, and that all parties have independent professional support throughout the process.
Why Banning Surrogacy Could Create Greater Risk
Stephanie also raised concerns about what could happen if surrogacy were prohibited rather than responsibly regulated.
For some intended parents, surrogacy is one of the only available paths to biological parenthood. A global ban would not necessarily eliminate the desire or need for surrogacy. Instead, Stephanie cautioned that it could push some people toward arrangements that are illegal, unregulated or less safe.
Responsible surrogacy requires strong ethical standards, appropriate screening, independent legal representation and protections for everyone involved. Removing access to well-regulated options risks removing those protections along with it.
Surrogacy Is About People, Not Politics
At the center of these conversations are real people: intended parents hoping to build their families and women who have made an informed decision to help them do so.
As Stephanie shared with PEOPLE, the vast majority of surrogacy journeys she has witnessed over more than two decades have resulted in meaningful and positive relationships between intended parents and their surrogates.
Those experiences are an important part of the conversation surrounding surrogacy and one of the reasons thoughtful regulation, education and ethical practices matter.
