genetic engineering and catholic views?

Question

from a catholic perspective what is so wrong with this??

Answer 1

Check out Humanae Vitae (Pope Paul VI)
Or Arch Bishop Chaput's writing.

Answer 2

*Is Catholic*

Genetic Engineering has been going on since the beginning of agriculture. Most if not all food plants and domestic animals have been genetically modified via human activity (breeding, culturing, cross-breeding, etc.).

In this sense, the Catholic Faith has no problem with genetic engineering.

Modern scientific genome manipulation, embryonic cloning, there is and can be a great debate about.

With regards to humans, it is never permissible because it would treat the human person as an animal. Catholic teaching would agree completely with the arguments in A BRAVE NEW WORLD.

In regards to genetically modifying plants and animals, this may be permissible so long as it is a responsible activity done to promote the common good (such as disease resistant wheat, cows that produce medicine in their milk, etc.)

Answer 3

The Catholic Church teaches about genetic engineering:

In moral evaluation a distinction must be made between strictly manipulation, which aims to cure illnesses caused by genetic or chromosome anomalies (genetic therapy), from manipulation the human genetic patrimony.

A curative intervention, which is also called ‘genetic surgery,’ ‘will be considered desirable in principle, provided its purpose is the real promotion of the personal well-being of the individual, without damaging his integrity or worsening his condition of life.

On the other hand, interventions which are not directly curative, the purpose of which is 'the production of human beings selected according to sex or other predetermined qualities,' which change the genotype of the individual and of the human species, 'are contrary to the personal dignity of the human being, to his integrity and to his identity.

Therefore they can be in no way justified on the pretext that they will produce some beneficial results for humanity in the future,' 'no social or scientific usefulness and no ideological purpose could ever justify an intervention on the human genome unless it be therapeutic, that is its finality must be the natural development of the human being.'

-- Charter for Health Care Workers, 12

Here is a site with offical Church teaching on genetic engineering: http://www.marymeetsdolly.com/

With love in Christ.

Answer 4

i think that the clarification maximum religions have a project with genetic engineering is by way of the fact with it, you are able to replace the direction of the destiny. you are able to considerably result the onset of illnesses and disabilities mutually as people are nevertheless in the fetal state. If a individual advance into meant to be born with diabetes or listening to impairment, with advances in such sciences there may be an better possiblility to regulate those genetic constructive properties, consequently changing the direction of the destiny. it fairly is what people call "playing God" and since the Catholic church believes there to be one all effective God, they could needless to say no longer be cool with you messing around and changing God's layout.

Answer 5

God is the only legitimate genetic engineer. He is the one who decides what characteristics each person has.

Don't you think it's peculiar how animals are "all the same", but each person is so obviously UNIQUE?

We all have a purpose, a reason for being. That reason for being is as unique as the individual. We are all given characteristics that help us accomplish our unique purpose. To interfere with one's genetic makeup is to interfere with one's Divinely assigned reason for being.

Even superficial things like eye color, hair color. Somehow, even the superficial details of our being are part of our reason for being. So, to interfere with something as seemingly mundane as hair/eye color, can have a disasterous effect on one's ability to accomplish their Divinely assigned purpose.

We are not supposed to decide for ourselves what our genetic makeup is. That is for God to determine, and God alone.

Answer 6

The *Christian* perspective is that this sort of thing is an abomination to God.