Theological Issues in Genetics

Theological Studies

Volumn 60, Issue 1, 1999, Pages 124-134

  Walter, James J ^a  

^a LOYOLA UNIVERSITY CHICAGO   (United States)

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

DNA;

ARTICLE; CLONING; ETHICS; GENE; GENE THERAPY; GENETIC ENGINEERING; GENETIC ENHANCEMENT; GENETICS AND REPRODUCTION; GERM CELL; HUMAN; PATENT; RELIGION; RELIGIOUS APPROACH; THEOLOGY;

GENETICS AND REPRODUCTION; RELIGIOUS APPROACH;

CHRISTIANITY; CLONING, ORGANISM; DNA; GENE THERAPY; GENES; GENETIC ENGINEERING; GENETIC ENHANCEMENT; GERM CELLS; HUMANS; PATENTS; THEOLOGY;

EID: 0033102679     PISSN: 00405639     EISSN: 21691304     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1177/004056399906000108     Document Type: Review

References (69)

1. Two other models have been recently proposed as well. James Gustafson has proposed a "participant" model in his Ethics from a Theocentric Perspective 2: Ethics and Theology (Chicago: University of Chicago, 1984) 13 and 294;
2. and Arthur Peacocke has proposed a "co-explorer" model in his Creation and the World of Science (Oxford: Clarendon, 1979) 304-6.
3. For example, see John Paul II, "Biological Research and Human Dignity," Origins 12 (October 22, 1982) 342-43;
4. and his "The Ethics of Genetic Manipulation," Origins 13 (November 17, 1983) 385, 387-89;
5. Science and Human Values Committee of the National Conference of Catholic Biships, "Critical Decision: Genetic Testing and Its Implications," Origins 25 (May 2, 1996) 769, 771-72;
6. The [British] Catholic Bishops' Joint Committee on Bioethical Issues, Genetic Intervention on Human Subjects: The Report of a Working Party of the Catholic Bishops' Joint Committee on Bioethical Issues (London: Linacre Centre, 1996) 28 and 42;
7. World Council of Churches, Manipulating Life: Ethical Issues in Genetic Engineering (Geneva: WCC, Church and Society, 1982) 6;
8. National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., Human Life and the New Genetics: A Report of a Task Force Commissioned by the NCC (New York: Office of Family Ministries and Human Sexuality, 1980) 43;
9. United Church of Christ, "The Church and Genetic Engineering" (Seventeenth General Synod of the UCC, Fort Worth, Texas, June 29-July 4, 1989) 1-5, at 3;
10. and The United Methodist Church Genetic Science Task Force Report to the 1992 General Conference, "New Developments in Genetic Science Challenge Church and Society," Church and Society (1992) 112-23, at 121.
11. Also, see Pius XII's earlier address on genetics, "Moral Aspects of Genetics" (1953), in Kevin D. O'Rourke, O.P., and Philip Boyle, ed., Medical Ethics: Sources of Catholic Teachings (Washington: Georgetown University, 1993) 130-31.
12. See Paul Abrecht, ed., Faith and Science in an Unjust World: Report of the World Council of Churches' Conference on Faith, Science and the Future 2: Reports and Recommendations (Philadelphia: Fortress, 1980) 66;
13. United Methodist Church, "New Developments in Genetic Science" 122;
14. Allen Verhey," 'Playing God' and Invoking a Perspective," Journal of Medicine and Philosophy 20 (1995) 347-64, at 361;
15. and the summary in Ted Peters, "Intellectual Property and Human Dignity," in Mark S. Frankel and Albert Teich, ed., The Genetic Frontier: Ethics, Law, and Policy (Washington: American Association for the Advancement of Science, 1994) 215-24, at 221.
16. see John Paul II, "The Ethics of Genetic Manipulation," 385, 387-89, at 388
17. The Catholic Health Association of the United States, Human Genetics: Ethical Issues in Genetic Testing, Counseling, and Therapy (St. Louis: CHA, 1990) 22.
18. " 'Playing God' and Germline Intervention," Journal of Medicine and Philosophy 20 (August 1995) 365-86, at 365.
19. For a summary of the moral and theological arguments for and against this form of therapy, see James J. Walter," 'Playing God' or Properly Exercising Human Responsibility? Some Theological Reflections on Human Germ-Line Therapy," New Theology Review 10 (November 1997) 39-59.
20. the Panel on Bioethical Concerns of the NCC/USA, Genetic Engineering: Social and Ethical Consequences (New York: Pilgrim, 1984) 24.
21. Joseph D. Cassidy, O.P., and Edmund D. Pellegrino, "A Catholic Perspective on Human Gene Therapy," International Journal ofBioethics 4 (1993) 11-18, at 12.
22. see John S. Feinberg and Paul D. Feinberg, Ethics for a Brave New World (Wheaton, 111.: Crossway, 1993) 280.
23. Philip Hefner, "The Evolution of the Created Co-Creator," in Ted Peters, ed., Cosmos as Creation: Theology and Science in Consonance (Nashville: Abingdon, 1989) 211-33.
24. For Rahner's two widely read and influential essays, see "The Experiment with Man: Theological Observations on Man's Self-Manipulation," in Theological Investigations 9, trans. Graham Harrison (New York: Herder and Herder, 1972) 205-24;
25. For an interesting comparison between Rahner's two articles, see David F. Kelly, "Karl Rahner and Genetic Engineering: The Use of Theological Principles in Moral Analysis," Philosophy and Theology 9 (Autumn-Winter, 1995) 177-200.
26. Ronald Cole-Turner, "Is Genetic Engineering Co-Creation?," Theology Today 44 (October 1987) 338-49, at 345-347;
27. and his The New Genesis: Theology and the Genetic Revolution (Louisville: Westminster/Knox, 1993) 98-103.
28. Ted Peters, Playing God? Genetic Determinism and Human Freedom (New York: Routledge, 1997) 144-56.
29. Ted Peters, For the Love of Children: Genetic Technology and the Future of the Family (Lousiville: Westminster/Knox, 1996) 155.
30. For example, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, "Instruction on Respect for Human Life in Its Origin and on the Dignity of Procreation," Origins 16 (March 19, 1987) I, no. 6;
31. Cardinal Keeler, "The Problem with Human Cloning," Origins 27 (February 26, 1998) 597 and 599-601;
32. General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, "Motions on Cloning," in Ronald Cole-Turner, ed., Human Cloning: Religious Responses (Louisville: Westminster/Knox, 1997) 138;
33. and The Christian Life Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, "Against Human Cloning: March 6, 1997," in National Bioethics Advisory Commission, Cloning Human Beings: Report and Recommendations of the National Bioethics Advisory Commission (Rockville, Md.: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1997) 56.
34. For example, see Joseph Fletcher, "Ethical Aspects of Genetic Controls," New England Journal of Medicine 285 (April 1971) 776-83;
35. Ted Peters, "Cloning Shock: A Theological Reaction," in Cole-Turner, Human Cloning 12-24;
36. and Philip Hefner, "Cloning as Quintessential Human Act," Insights (August 1997) 18-21.
37. Genetic Science Task Force, "Statement from the United Methodist Genetic Science Task Force: May 9, 1997," in Cole-Turner, Human Cloning 143-45, at 143;
38. R. Albert Mohler, Jr., "The Brave New World of Cloning: A Christian Worldview Perspective," 91-105.
39. NBAC, Cloning Human Beings 47.
40. Richard D. Land and C. Ben Mitchell, "Patenting Life: No," First Things 63 (May 1996) 20-22, at 21.
41. Mark J. Hanson, "Religious Voices in Biotechnology: The Case of Gene Patenting," Hastings Center Report 27 (November-December 1997) 1-21, at 4.
42. Ted Peters, "Patenting Life: Yes," First Things 63 (May 1996) 18-20, at 19;
43. See, e.g., Ted Howard and Jeremy Rifkin, Who Should Play God? The Artificial Creation of Life and What It Means for the Future of the Human Race (New York: Delacorte, 1977);
44. and R. C. Sproul, Jr., Playing God: Dissecting Biomedical Ethics and Manipulating the Body (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1997).
45. Some recent attempts have been made to clarify the meaning of the phrase; see, e.g., Verhey, "'Playing God' and Invoking a Perspective" 347-64
46. Lisa Sowie Canili, '"Playing God': Religious Symbols in Public Places," Journal of Medicine and Philosophy 20 (1995) 341-46.
47. See Howard Brody, Ethical Decision in Medicine (Boston: Little, Brown, 1976) 82.
48. Verhey, '"Playing God' and Invoking a Perspective" 358.
49. President's Commission for the Study of Ethical Problems in Medicine and Biomedical and Behavioral Research, Splicing Life (Washington: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1982) 54.
50. NCC, Genetic Engineering 27.
51. Church of the Brethren, "1987 Annual Conference Statement on Genetic Engineering" (1987 Annual Conference Minutes) 451-56, at 453.
52. For a discussion of some of these issues, see Bernard Baertschi, "Devons-nous respecter le génome humain?" Revue de théologie et de philosophie 123 (1991) 411-34.
53. See Cassidy and Pellegrino, "A Catholic Perspective on Human Gene Therapy" 12;
54. Jeremy Rifkin, who has protested against this view, is a notable exception; see his Algeny (New York: Penguin, 1983).
55. Ted Peters, Playing God 117.
56. Lee M. Silver, "Cloning, Ethics, and Religion," Cambridge Quarterly of Healthcare Ethics 1 (1998) 168-72, at 169.
57. Richard A. McCormick, S.J., "Should We Clone Humans?" Christian Century 110 (November 17-24, 1993) 1148-49.
58. Joseph Fletcher, The Ethics of Genetic Control: Ending Reproductive Roulette (Garden City, N.Y.: Anchor, 1974) 126.
59. Paul Ramsey, Fabricated Man: The Ethics of Genetic Control (New Haven, Conn.: Yale University, 1970) 138.
60. Fletcher, The Ethics of Genetic Control 200.
61. Ramsey, Fabricated Man 91-96.
62. See Verhey, "'Playing God' and Invoking a Perspective" 356.
63. See Rebecca S. Eisenberg, "Patenting Organisms," in Encyclopedia ofBioethics, Warren T. Reich, ed. (New York: Macmillan, 1995) 4.1911-14, at 1911.
64. For a summary of this position, see Hanson, "Religious Voices in Biotechnology" 4.
65. Land and Mitchell, "Patenting Life: No" 21.
66. Report of Committee on Resolutions, "On the Patenting of Animal and Human Genes," SBC Bulletin (1995) 7-8, at 7;
67. and United Methodist Church Task Force, "New Developments in Genetic Science" 117.
68. Ronald Cole-Turner, "Religion and Gene Patenting," Science 270 (October 6, 1995) 52.
69. Hanson, "Religious Voices in Biotechnology" 9-10.