Stem cell research is a controversial issue modern society has faced nowadays. Specialists along with common people express the most diversified opinions as to this issue and its moral basis. Catholic Church, as well, clearly established its distinctively negative position concerning the issue of stem cell research. Basically, the concerns of Catholic clergy are centered around their biblical beliefs concerning the sacred gift of life and God’s right as a Sovereign to be the only person to interfere into life-related matters.
Stem cell research emerged from the findings by James E. Till and Ernest A. McCulloch from the University of Toronto in the 1960s1. Immediately this line in biological researches became popular among scientists all around the world. They saw numerous prospects as to its application in practice including curing the most complicated sicknesses, organ transplantation, rejuvenation of human body and many more2. These benefits provided by means of the use of stem cells based technologies are used by the supporters of this practice. On the other hand, the technology of the use of stem cells along with the other related matters can be qualified as interference into life in the “holiest” meaning of this word. Thus, numerous religious people along with the activists from secular background strive to prove that stem cell researches violate important principles and regulations connected to the sacred gift of life.
Among such opposes of stem cell researches are the representatives from Catholic Church who argue that this biological technology is pure and simple as desecration of God’s exclusive right as the Creator and Sovereign of the Universe and the Source of Life to be the only person to interfere into life-related matters3. Their evidences are based on such quotation from the Holy Bible as “for with you is the source of life”4 and “the source of living water, God”5. These and the abundance of the other places from the Holy Scriptures establish God’s position as the Giver of life, and the only person having a right to operate the gift of life which stem cells are closely connected with.
Speaking about my opinion concerning the issue of stem cell research, it should be mentioned that I am the supporter of the conservative way of thinking. I acknowledge the fact that stem cell research provides new ways of treating sicknesses along with the other numerous benefits, but I am a religious and god-fearing person, who knows it very well from the Bible along with numerous experiences from my personal life that interfering into matters that are marked as the “territory of God” is a disastrous practice. Even if such interfering brings significant benefits initially, the final outcome of such practices will be very sad. God is a powerful and unlimitedly wise person who also possesses the most outstanding inner qualities of love and compassion to each of his creatures; he knows well what is good and bad for his “children”. Thus, I believe there is no wisdom in entering the field which he has marked as something he only works with, I mean, life-related matters including varied manipulations with stem cells. Furthermore, I have special concerns regarding the use of embryonic stem cells. Such technology is ruining for the life of embryo; why on earth should somebody’s life be ruined in order to get some temporary benefits for the other human being? Of course, there happen cases when embryo will die anyway; however, it is not a reason to make use of its joint parts as it is also connected to the other important matters which I have related above.
Concluding on all the facts mentioned earlier, it should be stated that stem cell researches cause heated debates within society. There exists an abundance of proofs that the use of technologies based on stem cell researches is very beneficial for finding new ways of curing illnesses, organ transplantation, rejuvenation of human body and many more. These vital benefits urge numerous people to become the supporters of the use of stem cell technologies in medicine, cosmetology and the other important areas. However, the other position states clearly that the use of stem cells and stem cells based technologies is actually an interfering into the matters which only belong to God such as the sacred gift of life and operating varied genetic mechanisms to create new forms of life including new cells, tissues, organs and systems of organs. Catholic Church is among the most zealous and mettlesome opponents of stem cell researches on the reason of the above mentioned facts.
Bibliography
- Frazier, Nancy.”Stem-cell Research and the Catholic Church”. Catholic News Service.
- Richert, Scott. “The Catholic Church’s Teaching on Stem-Cell Research”. About.com Guide, Web.
- Shannon, Thomas. “Stem-Cell Research How Catholic Ethics Guide Us”. Catholic News Service.
- The Holy Bible. New International Version. Biblica, Inc, 1984. Web.
Footnotes
- Nancy Frazier.”Stem-cell Research and the Catholic Church”. Catholic News Service.
- Thomas Shannon. “Stem-Cell Research How Catholic Ethics Guide Us”. Catholic News Service.
- Scott Richert. “The Catholic Church’s Teaching on Stem-Cell Research”. About.com Guide.
- The Holy Bible. New International Version. Psalm 36:9 (Biblica, Inc, 1984.)
- The Holy Bible. New International Version. Jeremiah 17:13 (Biblica, Inc, 1984.)