By Paul Dion, STL
Abortion is wrong. Abortion is murder. So many of us are in complete consonance with those two statements. Even many people with no real deep religious convictions believe that abortion is wrong. After all, abortion is bringing an innocent life to an end by stepping in front of God, the creator of all life.
Abortion is wrong. Abortion is murder. So many of us are in complete consonance with those two statements. Even many people with no real deep religious convictions believe that abortion is wrong. After all, abortion is bringing an innocent life to an end by stepping in front of God, the creator of all life.
It is a rather distasteful subject, stark and cruel, so we have invented euphemisms to talk about it. Rare are those who admit publicly that the are anti-abortion. They say instead that they are pro-life. The pro-lifers among us (I am ANTI-ABORTION) wring their hands in despair because abortion is legal in many countries in the world.
However, there is not much noise yet about human cloning though. Perhaps it is because human cloning is still illegal in the United States.
Here's our Burning Question(s):
Why would it be legal to take a life through abortion on the one hand, and illegal to bring a life into being through cloning on the other hand? Does this make you feel as though you are caught in the middle? Have you given any thought to how you would feel if human cloning were to suddenly become legal in our country?
Before you answer, please realize that the Church teaches that human cloning is immoral. Do you know why?
Share your ideas and thoughts with us. Post a comment below.
I've always heard the talking heads on TV say Human Cloning takes God out of the picture during the life creation process. And the Catholic Church teaches this technology is not morally proper. But I think God is still in the picture because without His great power, the mystery of conception will not even happen, albeit in a petri dish. Conception doesn't just happen. God makes it possible for the egg and the sperm to bond together and form a human being. I hope I'm making sense. I think I am.
ReplyDeleteYou've made a tremendous amount of sense. God is still in the picture if a human being comes to the light of day. The reasons for the Church's stand are not because God would be absent from the process of bringing a new human into being. We will await more comments before making the Church's case.
ReplyDeleteThink of the difference between a small child with two loving parents and a small child who is an orphan, never to be adopted.
ReplyDeleteWhich child has the better chance of realizing it's full potential. Which child will have more protection and nurturing.
Cloning takes the parents completely out of the picture, and while conception may occur in a test tube, life, is Gods gift to two people who then are given the responsibility of caring for that life.
Without the normal support system that children have, (parents, grand parents, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, and cousins), who is left to defend the clones basic human dignity.
How long before genetic enhancements are preformed on clones so they are born with only enough mind to keep them alive. Kept alive only long enough for an experiment to be performed or for their organs to be harvested.
In my opinion, cloning is the first step in creating a whole class of disposable people or people as a commodity. No thanks!
BURNING QUESTION -- CLONING IS IMMORAL
ReplyDeleteWe asked this question last week and not too many people were willing to jump into the fray, It is for this reason that we are making the following statements. We think that this is an important question. This is one of the questions that is "ahead of the curve" and Parishworld.net thinks that it is important to communicate the church's position to you ahout it.
Its foundation for the immorality of human cloning rests on the following principles:
1. The process of human cloning attacks the dignity of human procreation.
2. The process of human cloning is an affront to the dignity of individuality.
Let's consider the reason given in number 1.
Methods of reproduction that result in offspring apart from the acts of marital union because they dissociate the ends of marriage. In vitro fertilization departs from from God's plan for human reproduction because it dispenses with the act of marital union. Cloning goes further than this as it doesn't involve the use of human male and female gametes. Because of this, the relationship between human male and female are not included. Father and Mother relationships are not included in the generation of the clone. This is therefore an exclusion of the relationship of filiation, conssanguinity and of course, parenthood. Which mother would want to be the twin sister of her child?
What about the dignity of the individual stated in number 2?
what if you had to go around asking, "Who is my Mother" and could never find the identifying DNA? Every person has the god-Given right to be an individual for all eternity. The Adjective used for this individuality is "ineffable." This means that it is never able to be replicated. What if you got to heaven and found out that you had a complete identity with your father? Worse, how about having to stand in line behind five other souls?
Further, why would you want cloning?
You would want to be cloned so that you and your biological, naturally generated offspring would have a "bank" of compatible genetic material to replace organs that might be needed to save the life of Mom or Dad or Johnny in case of an accident. It would be nice to have another heart around, just in case. It would also be nice to be able to recreate sweet Betty who died so young. Now we can have her around and enjoy her just like we would have enjoyed Betty [1]. This is immoral because it is not life for the greater glory of God for the joy and comfort of a self-centered human being.
Finally, cloning for "spare parts"?
No way! That is the ultimate insult to God. I need this extra being because I want to prolong my life. Since this being is not a fruit of my love but a scientific construct, I have the right to use the spare parts to make me live longer to enjoy my grandchildren, etc.
It is immoral to separate the procreative and unitive meanings of human reproduction.
Please stay informed about these matters.
I must admit, I skimmed through the question. But, if the question is why is it on the one hand, abortion is legal and human cloning is illegal... Well, I dont see them as "contradictory" in the context of our secular world ruled by Satan. We live in a me-centered society, and therefore all "moral" questions are to be considered within the framework of what's best for ME... So, if life is "inconvenient" for me, abortion is "okay", but cloning is the same deal... Another ME? No way, I am a unique and special individual. I cannot be copied... It's the me-centered philosophy again, operating in both cases. We must resist the philosophies of the world... In the middle of every sIn is "I".
ReplyDeleteGod be with all of you.
Laurence