Cloning, mutation and Catholicism

[CarloMagnus]

So what is the relationship between Catholicism and human cloning? What do the Saints, the Doctors and Lawyers, Philosophers and Popes of dear Holy Mother Church say regarding it?

I understand that cloning is typically the same as playing God, which is, I think, a mortal sin of the worst kind. However, I don’t know many people on here talking about it. And I think that such things need to be said for future reference.

In same light, what of mutated human beings? Say people who have DNA of animals. Does that make them people or animals? Should such people be allowed to live? What do we do regarding them? Can they considered as having souls? Would it be our religious duty to kill such things? (Clones and mutant/animal/creature/human things).

Where do we draw the line on what’s human and what’s animal?

-Karl

 

[UnityofTrinity]

So what is the relationship between Catholicism and human cloning? What do the Saints, the Doctors and Lawyers, Philosophers and Popes of dear Holy Mother Church say regarding it?

I understand that cloning is typically the same as playing God, which is, I think, a mortal sin of the worst kind. However, I don’t know many people on here talking about it. And I think that such things need to be said for future reference.

In same light, what of mutated human beings? Say people who have DNA of animals. Does that make them people or animals? Should such people be allowed to live? What do we do regarding them? Can they considered as having souls? Would it be our religious duty to kill such things? (Clones and mutant/animal/creature/human things).

Where do we draw the line on what’s human and what’s animal?

-Karl

First of all regarding cloning, I think human cloning is the only ethical problem. I find no problem with cloning cells or certain animals for scientific studies.

In regard to mutated human, you’re saying that they’re grown then harvested or were they conceived and born like any other human being

 

[WingsOfEagles]

The Church regards it as morally wrong and I agree. However, I would think if a human being was successfully cloned, he/she would have a soul, just like any other human. After all, our bodies are simply the vessel used to hold our soul during our time on Earth. When our bodies die, our souls live on outside our physical bodies. Really, a clone would genetically be the same relation to the original as two identical twins are. Do both twins have souls? Yes.

 

[Mumbles140]

I believe “Dolly” (the sheep) was the 265th attempt at cloning sheep before she survived, and her life was extremely shorter than a typical sheep’s.

I’m pretty sure humans are much more complex than sheep, and I’m not sure about the rest of you, but I would hate to be responsible for the loss of 264 humans (developed anywhere between embryo and infancy), and I don’t think the saints would be too keen on it either…

 

[tabycat]

So what is the relationship between Catholicism and human cloning? What do the Saints, the Doctors and Lawyers, Philosophers and Popes of dear Holy Mother Church say regarding it?

I understand that cloning is typically the same as playing God, which is, I think, a mortal sin of the worst kind. However, I don’t know many people on here talking about it. And I think that such things need to be said for future reference.

In same light, what of mutated human beings? Say people who have DNA of animals. Does that make them people or animals? Should such people be allowed to live? What do we do regarding them? Can they considered as having souls? Would it be our religious duty to kill such things? (Clones and mutant/animal/creature/human things).

Where do we draw the line on what’s human and what’s animal?

-Karl

Human cloning is considered wrong; the cloning of animals is not wrong, if not right at this time.
The only way that a person can have animal DNA is beyond what we can do now. They mayor may not be human but more likely to be wrong. A mutated (no animal dna) human being would be human, not animal, and should be treated as a person. :newidea::hug3::flowers:

 

[1ke]

The Church speaks via the documents Donum Vitae and Dignitas Personae. I suggest reading them.

 

[edwest2]

So what is the relationship between Catholicism and human cloning? What do the Saints, the Doctors and Lawyers, Philosophers and Popes of dear Holy Mother Church say regarding it?

I understand that cloning is typically the same as playing God, which is, I think, a mortal sin of the worst kind. However, I don’t know many people on here talking about it. And I think that such things need to be said for future reference.

In same light, what of mutated human beings? Say people who have DNA of animals. Does that make them people or animals? Should such people be allowed to live? What do we do regarding them? Can they considered as having souls? Would it be our religious duty to kill such things? (Clones and mutant/animal/creature/human things).

Where do we draw the line on what’s human and what’s animal?

-Karl

You provide nothing but a bunch of questions. What future reference? Regarding cloning see:

vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_20081208_dignitas-personae_en.html

See “Third Part.”

What you propose is science fiction and does not even allow for alternatives. Do you know what’s being planned?

Therapeutic Cloning: A baby is born that is a clone of you. It’s only purpose? To be cut up for spare parts. Need a new pair of kidneys, corneas, a heart? A perfect match and no need to take anti-organ rejecting drugs for the rest of your life

First. This is monstrous evil. Second, a tiny pair of kidneys or corneas are not going to fit in an adult body. And most people don’t have 18 years to wait if they need an organ.

Enhancement genetic engineering: The human brain and body are very complex. Changing one aspect of the brain may negatively affect another. Years of testing would be required. I doubt anyone would be willing to take the risk, and different people are different. Just because it worked on patient A does not mean it will work on patient B and if irreparable damage or degenerative effects occur, then what?

Interspecies genetic combinations: This is immediately unethical and impermissable, not just from a scientific standpoint.

Peace,
Ed

 

[CarloMagnus]

You provide nothing but a bunch of questions. What future reference?

This IS a thread and it IS a website to ask questions. Do you see anyone else talking about it? How many people here haven’t even thought about the repercussions to it?

Come off a little less harder. It’s a question, not a debate on whether God exists or not.

-Karl

 

[thistle]

This IS a thread and it IS a website to ask questions. Do you see anyone else talking about it? How many people here haven’t even thought about the repercussions to it?

Come off a little less harder. It’s a question, not a debate on whether God exists or not.

-Karl

Its very simple. Creation of a human life other than through normal procreative means of sexual intercourse between husband and wife is gravely sinful.

Below are the two Church documents 1ke referred you to:

vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_19870222_respect-for-human-life_en.html

vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_20081208_dignitas-personae_en.html

 

[rossum]

In same light, what of mutated human beings?

All humans are mutated. The average human has 100 to 200 mutations, that is DNA which did not come from either parent.

You may be thinking of human-animal chimaeras, rather than mutated humans.

Where do we draw the line on what’s human and what’s animal?

DNA is probably not a good way to do it. We share large amounts of our DNA with other animals, such as chimps or gorillas.

rossum