Aborted Fetus Cells

[WesternBlot]

I have a huge problem, and do not know what to do, so I ask for any advice that you may have.

I work in molecular biology research at the moment, and was recently baptized and confirmed into the Catholic Church (that’s not the problem, that’s the best part!!!). After realizing that I am very, very strongly Pro-Life (if life begins at conception, how could I not be?) I confronted my boss and wanted to know if any of the cell lines I work with are either

a) embryonic stem cells

b) cells harvested at all from embryos/aborted fetuses

I was told no. I did not leave it at this though, I researched the different cell lines I’m using, among them being HEK 293 and MRC-5. Obviously I feel like I was lied to. I’ve actively (and still am) working with cells from aborted fetuses, something I am completed opposed to! I am not sure how to proceed.

I am leaving for the Army in 5 months, so I could just say nothing because I’m done soon, but this (to me) means I give sin a “Pass” for a few months, simply because it’s convenient for me. I can’t imagine a Saint letting something horrible that supports the murder of children just slide for 5 months.

Please, any advice?

***If you are interested in this more in depth, google “The Ethics of HEK 293”, an article from Catholic Bioethics Quarterly available for free.

 

[Wowbagger]

Damn, man. That is a pickle.

I think you could make a good case for saying that continuing your research on these stem cell lines is remote material cooperation (i.e. pretty far removed from the actual murder of infants) for sufficiently proportionate reasons (partly the good that may come of the research, but mostly the fact that it’s your livelihood, and you’ll be exiting the field in a few months anyway). If both those conditions are fulfilled, then to continue participating in the research is not sinful.

However, there are three reasons I wouldn’t continue: (1) I’m really not sure that analysis would hold up under serious scrutiny; (2) the bishops have been very hard on activity related to embryonic murder, including this research, and that signals to me that I should err on the side of caution, and (3) while it might be not sinful to continue the research in the presence of sufficient proportionate reasons, it also wouldn’t be praiseworthy. The most praiseworthy course of action is undoubtedly to resign immediately – and, as Catholics, shouldn’t we always aim for the most praiseworthy rather than the minimally good action?

I’m not super up-to-date on the bioethics literature related to remote cooperation in abortion-enabled stem-cell research, but, reading over Dr. Wong’s article, as well as some of the citations from the Pontifical Academy for Life he mentions, I’m reassured that I am on track with what they’re saying. In fact, they seem very suspicious of my argument that this research could be considered remote material cooperation. They suggest that this cooperation is proximate, or nearly so, and proximate material cooperation in grave evil is always wrong.

My back-of-the-envelope advice is that you are being called – at a painfully early stage in your newfound faith – to make a pretty huge sacrifice. For the sake of the children who have died for this research, you should resign. And, in a polite, modest manner, you should make it clear why you are resigning. (Don’t burn bridges you don’t have to, since their job recommendations may be invaluable to you in the future.)

EDIT: Because you are leaving for the Army in five months anyway, it may be very difficult to make ends meet in the meantime, since nobody will hire you for another full-time, high-paying job if you’re going to quit that soon. Perhaps you have savings, or an understanding family, or parish community, which would be able to supplement a near-minimum-wage job for a few months.

On the other hand, If you have a family, with kids whose mouths you have to feed, and it is not financially possible for you to do that without this job, then that is a very strong proportionate reason to stay at your current job. It wouldn’t be a great situation, but there would be no sin in it. (On the other other hand, kids can be very willing to embrace heroism, even if it brings suffering.)

I hope that helps. I’m certain it wasn’t the advice you wanted.

 

[jja619]

Oh wow. That is a toughie. I’m studying BME right now, and I remember making sure that grad students I was looking into doing research with didn’t use hESCs. I think the only one using embryonic stem cells was using ones from mice though. And the rest were working with MSCs.

But yeah. I would probably try to find another place to do research where involvement with hESCs was not a concern.

And everything stated above is really good advice.

Also, best of wishes on your assignment in five months.

 

[WesternBlot]

Thank you both for the reply. Although these are not hESC’s, they are kidney cells and lung tissue cells derived from aborted fetuses.

As mentioned, there is no way I could make ends meet if I resigned immediately, my apartment contract is through September and I have no savings to afford more than 1-2 months rent. I’m single with no dependents, but rent and loan payments are the big issue. If all goes according to plan, I will be talking to my boss about leaving at the end of August. That’s 3 months, and then my apartment lease will be up, and my parents agreed I can move back in with them until I leave for the Army in November (I’ll be moving into a clinical laboratory job, rather than research).

It’s not ideal, because I still have to be proximate and integral to the use of these cell lines, but I honestly can’t see any other way except to bear with it the next 3 months and pray.

 

[Rence]

Thank you both for the reply. Although these are not hESC’s, they are kidney cells and lung tissue cells derived from aborted fetuses.

As mentioned, there is no way I could make ends meet if I resigned immediately, my apartment contract is through September and I have no savings to afford more than 1-2 months rent. I’m single with no dependents, but rent and loan payments are the big issue. If all goes according to plan, I will be talking to my boss about leaving at the end of August. That’s 3 months, and then my apartment lease will be up, and my parents agreed I can move back in with them until I leave for the Army in November (I’ll be moving into a clinical laboratory job, rather than research).It’s not ideal, because I still have to be proximate and integral to the use of these cell lines, but I honestly can’t see any other way except to bear with it the next 3 months and pray.

You need the advice of a priest, not an online forum. That’s said…and take it for what it’s worth…

I don’t think losing your livelihood is a requirement of the Church. The biggest part of your problem is that you did not have knowedge that they were using aborted fetus cells until after you took the job and now you are dependent on it for your livelihood. If you knew beforehand, then the fault would be completely yours. But under the circumstances, it’s not completely your fault. Now that you have knowledge of it, I don’t think it’s required that you immediately quit (if you can…I mean, you said you work for the Army…can you even up and quit like that anyway?) and incur financial ruin. But I do think you have to immediately work on a plan to fix the mess you’re in. And it seems like you are doing that.

Of course, if there is any feasible way for you to leave there without incurring financial ruin, I’d say that would be your first option. Since it’s not, I believe the best way to go about this is secure another job first and follow your plan described above.

 

[WesternBlot]

Rence, thank you, and my current job is civilian, I am leaving it for the Army. I will be leaving in a few months and living with my parents until my ship date for the military. Thanks for the advice!