Genetic Engineering The Church View Essay Research

Genetic Engineering, The Church View Essay, Research Paper

Search for Human

Christian Values

11/22/00

A relatively recent issue, genetic engineering has nevertheless become an important enough internationally to cause public debates. The issue is complex, involving many parts and, of course numerous ethical concerns. Some of the parts enveloped by genetic engineering are cloning, modifications of genetic traits, and bioengineering of plants and certain animal to yield better crop and product. Much can be done using genetic engineering. Although we have a potential to harvest and already do see many advantages as a result of this, a deeper issue looms like a cloud on the horizon: are we prepared for the ramifications involved in this concept that has such high potential.

At the center of the issue is the perspective of the Church. And it is through human dignity that religion and cloning are linked. Genetic engineering, and, specifically cloning is deeply an issue of dignity. For example, the Catholic Church addressed human cloning in 1987, stating that cloning is contrary to the moral law, since it is in opposition to the dignity “both of human procreation and of the conjugal union” (2). Thus, cloning is contrary to our moral and theological beliefs since the normal reproduction does not take course: life is created through neither marriage nor sexual intercourse. God’s plan for us is finding a mate-someone we spend the rest of our life with, have children, pass on our knowledge and genetic material. God’s plan is for us to have two biological parents-those whose genetic, physical, and mental information comes together to produce a new, different being. Cloning completely disrupts God’s plan.

A rather controversial issue, cloning, as most such issues, forces one to take a stand on either moral, ethical, religious, or other grounds. Once faced with such dilemna, various religious movements have had to take such stand, which are rather varied throughout the different faiths. The Catholic Church, for example, has denounced cloning and has specifically called to put a ban on human cloning. “God alone is the master of human life and of its integrity” states Pope John Paul II. “To respect the dignity of man, consequently, amounts to safeguarding this identity of the man “corpore et anima unus,” states the Vatican Council II (3). The biological individuality of a person is untouchable, being made of both spirit and the body. Some other statements of John Paul II in his address to the World Medical Association:

“.must not infringe on the origin of human life, that is, procreation linked to the

Union, not only biological but also spiritual, of the parents, united by the bond of marriage.”

“.must, consequently, respect the fundamental dignity of men and the common biological nature which is at the base of liberty, avoiding manipulations that tend to modify genetic inheritance.”

However, the Catholic Church is rather ambiguous when time comes for taking a stand on certain other issues. The vagueness of the Catholic Church comes in genetic engineering-no literature was found that details the point of view of the Catholic Church regarding topic such as, for example, genetic crop modification. The Church of Rome stands for what will benefit man and society, and its well being, and thus it may be safe to assume that enhanced production of crops, more milk, xenotransplantation, and the many benefits we can harvest from genetic modifications the Church does not oppose. Several advocates of the Catholic Church express their views on the matter through the biblical and evolutionary perspective. One scholar points out that crossbreeding is prohibited to maximize diversity: “You shall keep my statutes. You shall not let your cattle breed with a different kind; you shall not sow your field with two kinds of seed; nor shall there come upon you a garment of cloth made of two kinds of stuff” (Leviticus 19:19). In a Christian tradition, the mixing of DNA is biblically unjust (5). Many Christians are cautious in the genetic alteration of God’s creation.

Also according to John Paul II, the dignity of men transcends his biological condition (3). Thus, the dignity is more important than our biological well-being, a reason why cloning is denounced.

Orthodox Christianity has a very similar position along with Islam. Judaism, on the other hand, has a less firm stand on cloning: cloning is allowed unless it is done for reproductive reasons (even then, exceptions are possible). Cloning for therapeutic reasons, for example, is acceptable. Not without some religious conflicts, however of “the oneness of the human person and the duty to heal oneself’ (4).

Other religions are most straightforward with other forms of genetic engineering. The Buddhists, for example, believe in the karma of the body, saying that “the only ethical limit is suffering”, and thus genetic engineering can be used to improve our physical parameters. “The body is only a vehicle for karma. If the body has been genetically altered or cloned, it’s really not very important.” The main concern is to avoid pain and suffering (4). The main concept is ahimsa-”non-harming”-respect for the intrinsic value of all sentient beings, not only human life (6).

According to the Society, Religion, and Technology Project, a part of the Church