Christian Bioethics Summary

Bioethical principles in Christianity are based on

1. Scripture (Old and New Testament)
2. The example of Jesus’ actions (as related in the New Testament)

All Christians accept these. Roman Catholics also believe that the Pope and the Church has teaching authority – but this is always in line with scriptural values and the example of Jesus’ life.

Scriptural Principles Regarding Issues Surrounding Human Life

1. Genesis 1:27-28 human beings are created by God and in His image so Christians believe they each have dignity and must be protected and respected.
2. Thou Shalt Not Kill – Exodus 20:13
3. The Beatitudes in Luke and Matthew – “blessed are those who suffer persecution for the sake of justice” – Christians must stand up for the rights and dignity of others

Catholic teachings about bioethics include:

1. The 1994 Catechism
2. Various Papal Encyclicals – especially Humanae Vitae (On Human Life) which attests the dignity of human life at all states.

Disputes arise amongst Christians, even within denominations, over when human life begins. In the Anglican Church the Primate Peter Carnley (Bishop of Perth) says human life does not begin until “implantation” (14 days after fertilization does human genetic material becomes a person). The Anglican Bishop of Sydney Peter Jensen says that human beings exist from the moment of fertilization. Catholics agree with Jensen, as this is the argument outlined in Humane Vitae.

Understanding when human life begins is crucial to beliefs / ethics about stem cell research on embryonic material because if you believe human life begins at “implantation” then spare IVF embryos can be used for stem cell extraction without causing offence

Embryonic Stem Cell Research

A maximum number of types of cells can develop from embryonic cells so that all human cells can be produced for therapeutic purposes. But the removal of embryonic cells results in the destruction of the embryo that some Christians see as human beings or potential human beings. Some people see a difference between using “spare” IVF embryos and creating embryos for “harvesting” stem cells.

Christians, as a general principle, find embryonic research unacceptable ethically because of the inevitable destruction of the embryo and they believe it cannot be justified even on the grounds that the embryos are unwanted or that the destruction of the embryo will result in benefit to sick people.

Adult Stem Cell Research

This involves the “harvesting” of stem cells from humans any time after birth, or from the umbilical cord of newborns. The major disadvantage of this is that not all human cells will develop from this procedure. Roman Catholics say that this will improve with further research. Using adult stem cells is acceptable for a broad spectrum of Christians because it does not result in damage to, or death of, the donor. Dignity is preserved because the donor can give consent to the procedure.

Cloning

This is the creation of an exact genetic copy of a cell or cells. In religious bioethical terms it relates to human cloning. The advantages are that stem cells can be created for therapeutic application to sick and disabled people and that it does not involve emotional issues like “is an embryo a real human”.

The Christian ethical viewpoint is that cloning is unacceptable because it assaults the dignity of a human being because the clone is not a unique individual, not in the image of God and because the clone is created for the benefit of someone else.

Therapeutic cloning is the production of cloned cells, or whole bodies, for use to improve the health of already sick or disabled people.

Reproductive cloning is the production of exact genetic copies of highly gifted / extraordinary people so that their gifts or talents can be spread further.

Cloning is ethically unacceptable to all Christian denominations because it denies the cloned human the dignity of being unique and not being conceived by a natural process. It is seen as offending the dignity of the clone also, because it is created for the benefit of other people.