Christian views on cloning

Christian have views of cloning which are diverse and often conflicting.

Roman Catholicism and other Christian denominations believe that the soul enters the body at the moment of conception when the sperm and egg unite.^[1]

They feel harvesting cells for embryonic cloning is tantamount to live human experimentation and contrary to God's will. Further, they maintain producing cloned zygotes that are unlikely to survive is tantamount to murder. Some Christian conservatives express concern that cloned embryos would have no soul, since it was, in their view, born outside of God's parameters.

Other Christian traditions like the United Church of Christ do not believe a fertilized ovum constitutes a person. They believe that cloning can be conducted ethically in order to help treat disease and improve the public health.

Quotes

Rev. Demetri Demopulos, Greek Orthodox pastor and geneticist:

"As an Orthodox Christian, I speak out in opposition to any attempt to clone a human being because humans are supposed to be created by acts of love between two people, not through the manipulation of cells in acts that are ultimately about self-love."

Richard McCormick, a Jesuit priest and professor of Christian ethics at the University of Notre Dame:

"I can’t think of a morally acceptable reason to clone a human being."

Mary Seller, a member of Church of England's Board of Social Responsibility and a professor of developmental genetics:

"Cloning, like all science, must be used responsibly. Cloning humans is not desirable. But cloning sheep has its uses."

Pope John Paul II:

"These techniques, insofar as they involve the manipulation and destruction of human embryos, are not morally acceptable, even when their proposed goal is good in itself."

United Church of Christ Committee on Genetics:

"It is very likely that [nuclear transfer cloning], scientists could learn a great deal about basic human developmental biology and that this knowledge might someday lead to treatments for degenerative conditions or to counteract some forms of sterility. ... Various General Synods of the United Church of Christ have regarded the human pre-embryo as due great respect [but not] regarded the pre-embryo as the equivalent of a person. Therefore, we ... do not object categorically to human pre-embryo research [under certain conditions]."

Ben Mitchellin, assistant professor of Christian ethics at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary:

"The time is right for an outright ban on the production of cloned human embryos from fertilization to birth, regardless of how the research is funded. The vast majority of the American public favors a ban on both privately funded and publicly funded research.

See also

• Stem cell law
• Stem cell controversy

References

1. ^ Lucas J. Mlsna, Stem Cell Based Treatments and Novel Considerations for Conscience Clause Legislation, 8 Ind. Health L. Rev. 471. ISSN:1549-3199 LCCN:2004212209 OCLC:54703225

External links

• Declaration on the production and the scientific and therapeutic use of human embryonic stem cells from the Pontifical Academy for life.