Is it ok to choose how your child will look before it is born?

[Maya2172]

There is technology around today the allows us to select specific genes to determine what our child will look like before it is born. You can choose eye colour, hair colour, height, and so on. I am going to be doing a school debate about this subject. I am going to say it is wrongful and try to argue it from a catholic point of view. So can anyone give me some advice on what the church thinks about this kind of stuff? What does the Bible say? How can I argue this in a convincing way? Thanks!

 

[Usige]

Well I don’t think its quite as easy as some might suspect, but assuming its a viable possibility let me give you a couple places to start with.

First, to determine traits as you describe word require manipulation of the genetic code of either the egg and sperm before fertilization or after the child is conceived but before significant cell division has happened.

Taking that into account it would be unacceptable to Catholics for a number of reasons. Manipulation before fertilization would then involve some type of in vitro fertilization which divorces procreation from sex. After fertilization would still likely include IVF, but also involves manipulating the genes of a living child. In either case you would likely require donner or sequenced genes. In all these cases procreation is no longer the generative act of love between an man and woman, but is now a science experience for essentially vain reasons.

I’d suggest doing some research into Catholic Bio Ethics and genetic engineering.

BTW I wouldn’t look that far into the Bible. I don’t remember much on genetic engineering in it. For me it comes down to the fact that God is the author of life, so what right do we have to act as the editor for his work?

 

[Trishie]

Apart from the prejudicial insult of not accepting a baby for who that baby is, for the sake of mere appearance, it could be helpful, to study the technology of how it is done.
Others might suggest a more radical reason for genetic alteration, prevention of genetic defects and diseases.

Some suggestions regarding consequences and ethics:

www2.loras.edu/~CatholicHE/Arch/Sexuality/Genetic_dis_comment.html

"This type of genetic modification, called cytoplasmic transfer already results in a slightly higher chance of death and some have already been diagnosed with autism.

It seems that while we do not have freedom to smoke a plant or to gain access to effective cancer treating drugs such as DCA due to insufficient testing, the modification of the human species is taken lightly. Who knows what purposeful and accidental modifications will come from this." sott.net/article/256898-Oxford-professor-says-genetically-altering-unborn-babies-personalities-a-moral-obligation

Some suggestions
bionetonline.org/english/content/db_eth.htm

thetechnologicalcitizen.com/?p=1022

 

[Jeanne_S]

Well I don’t think its quite as easy as some might suspect, but assuming its a viable possibility let me give you a couple places to start with.

First, to determine traits as you describe word require manipulation of the genetic code of either the egg and sperm before fertilization or after the child is conceived but before significant cell division has happened.

Taking that into account it would be unacceptable to Catholics for a number of reasons. Manipulation before fertilization would then involve some type of in vitro fertilization which divorces procreation from sex. After fertilization would still likely include IVF, but also involves manipulating the genes of a living child. In either case you would likely require donner or sequenced genes. In all these cases procreation is no longer the generative act of love between an man and woman, but is now a science experience for essentially vain reasons.

I’d suggest doing some research into Catholic Bio Ethics and genetic engineering.

BTW I wouldn’t look that far into the Bible. I don’t remember much on genetic engineering in it. For me it comes down to the fact that God is the author of life, so what right do we have to act as the editor for his work?

:thumbsup:Well said!

 

[Morwenna]

Some excellent posts have already been made, above.

If you like to read, I’d recommend searching out the Sleepless series by Nancy Kress, which details the logical progression of this kind of thinking, some years down the track. The first book is Beggars in Spain, followed by Beggars and Choosers, and the last is Beggars Ride.

While these books are fiction, they provide heavy-duty food for thought on the individual and sociological impacts of genetic engineering.

 

[WhiteOnyx]

I will be very interested in following this thread as I can not see how this would be ok in anyway with Catholic teaching.

 

[gardenswithkids]

Not if the technology involves interfering with the normal marital acts. (You can look into Church teachings against IVF to see more details about why that’s wrong.)

But…there are Church approved ways that will affect what our children look like. It’s called “selecting a spouse.” Yes! We can do that! Children tend to look like their parents.

 

[SwimmerGirl42]

This is not sinful, nor it is wrong.

I really don’t think this is something that I would want to do though, ever, I really think that’s up to my child’s spirit or the diety above to ‘decide’ of sorts what to look like. I don’t think it should be illegal.

 

[nodito]

But…there are Church approved ways that will affect what our children look like. It’s called “selecting a spouse.” Yes! We can do that! Children tend to look like their parents.

LOL! This is awesome. I love it.