Surrogacy threatens family, sanctity of life, and the dignity of women as NJ case demonstrates

On December 31, 2009, the NY Times carried this article, (New Jersey Judge Calls Surrogate Legal Mother of Twins) by Stephanie Saul in which she discusses this case: “In A.G.R. v. S.H. & D.R.H., the mother of twin girls sued two men in a same-sex relationship. The two men have a ‘civil union’ in NJ and were ‘married’ in CA . . . The case involves a surrogacy contract that called for cutting off the mother?s rights after the birth . . . the arguments of the men show where SSM could lead.”

Fortunately, a New Jersey Court ruled in favor of the biological mother.  The NY Times web version of the article differs from the print version which concludes:

“As bizarre as all of this is and sounds, the threat of gestational surrogacy is very real. It is an attempt to exploit women, reduce them to an inanimate object, and make children the equivalent of a commodity. Gestational surrogacy is a threat to the family and the dignity of human life. It denigrates women, their role as mothers, and the mother-child relationship. This evil is only in its infancy and can be defeated, not only in court but also through legislation (which, I understand, is being drafted).”