Michigan Catholics are strongly criticizing Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s (D-MI) decision to sign legislation that lifted the state’s ban on compensated surrogacy, saying the measure exploits vulnerable women and puts them at risk for human trafficking. 

Surrogacy refers to the act of a woman carrying and delivering a child for another family. The practice has garnered criticism from the head of the Catholic church, Pope Francis, who called the act “despicable” as he claimed it commercializes pregnancy.