Journal: Eikon
Volume: EIKON 07:1 (Spring 2025)
Article: Confronting The Empathy Of Surrogacy
Author: Katy Faust

Eikon 7.1 (Spring 2025) p. 34

Confronting The Empathy Of Surrogacy

Katy Faust

Katy Faust is the founder and president of Them Before Us, a global movement that defends children’s rights to their mother and father. She publishes and testifies widely on why marriage and family are matters of justice for children and is a regular contributor at WORLD Magazine and The Federalist.

Last month I had the privilege of joining Jordan Peterson on his podcast.1 As an advisory board member for his new organization, the Alliance for Responsible Citizenship, I assumed we’d cover general social fabric principles — one major plank of ARC’s mission.

But once preliminaries were out of the way, Peterson introduced what is likely our biggest disagreement — surrogacy. Specifically, Jordan brought up his friend Dave Rubin, who, along with his husband David Janet, created two children through surrogacy. We would go on to discuss reproductive technologies and same-sex parenting for forty minutes.

Since I’m a great admirer of Jordan Peterson (JBP) and since this is one of the largest platforms I’ve appeared on, I of course read all 2000 YouTube comments. Surprisingly, more agreed with me than him.

Enticing Us Away

Some expressed bewilderment at the kinda-kid-glove treatment Peterson extended to Reuben in their hour-long conversation shortly after Ruben’s “pregnancy” announcement.2 Dozens noted that they are huge JBP fans and usually in 100% agreement with Peterson, but not on this. Several wondered if Peterson “had a blind spot” on the issue because of his friendship with Ruben.

Eikon 7.1 (Spring 2025) p. 35

Ordinarily crystal clear on human truths such as the distinct but complementary nature of male and female, the importance of marriage, motherhood, and fatherhood, we might think it bizarre that Peterson’s judgment was somewhat cloudy on the question of same-sex parenting. But the correct response is not to scoff at his confusion, but to recognize that every one of us is susceptible to similar compromise when someone we love is complicit in a behavior that goes against the clear biblical, or biological, good. God himself recognizes and warns against the degenerative pull those in our social circle can exert upon us (Deut 13:6–11). When someone we love, family or friend, is veering off the straight and narrow, it’s not uncommon for them to entice us into the ditch along with them. And today, that often happens under the banner of empathy and compassion.

No Room For Confusion About Surrogacy

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