Selling a Kidney

[ThirstyOne]

Hi. I’m a young woman who is considering the possibility of the religious life, so I am ashamed to be asking this, but…what is the Church’s stance on selling a kidney on the black market? I am aware of this being illegal by our government, but am drowning in debt and I would like to give someone a kidney and possibly save or improve his or her life. But I would not consider doing this if it were a terrible sin…Please know, I am desperate for a few thousand dollars to pay for two root canals and pay my parents back so that I can enter the religious order I feel I am called to…Thanks. God Bless!

 

[marty1818]

This is what the Benedict XVI said about it:

catholic.org/international/international_story.php?id=30460

 

[smndtupidisaftr]

I don’t know the official position on this (if there is one), but I don’t see why not. You’re not going to die if you give up a kidney and in fact you are probably going to save someone else’s life in the process. Just looking at that it seems as innocuous as giving blood. Yes I know, giving a kidney involves much more, but it is not going to kill you. Now, is there anything wrong with selling the kidney? Not as far as I can see. You can sell the products that you make and the fruit of your labor, and there is no ethical dilemma involved here. Why should it be different with a kidney? I just want to continue stressing, though, that giving up your heart or something that is vital to your life is quite different as this seems tantamount to suicide. As for breaking the law, I wouldn’t be concerned about it. I really don’t like this law against selling organs anyway.

Any other thoughts?

 

[1ke]

Is this a joke?

Seriously, you have to ask this question? Yes it is gravely immoral.

 

[AdamP88]

I don’t know the official position on this (if there is one), but I don’t see why not. You’re not going to die if you give up a kidney and in fact you are probably going to save someone else’s life in the process. Just looking at that it seems as innocuous as giving blood. Yes I know, giving a kidney involves much more, but it is not going to kill you. Now, is there anything wrong with selling the kidney? Not as far as I can see. You can sell the products that you make and the fruit of your labor, and there is no ethical dilemma involved here. Why should it be different with a kidney? I just want to continue stressing, though, that giving up your heart or something that is vital to your life is quite different as this seems tantamount to suicide. As for breaking the law, I wouldn’t be concerned about it. I really don’t like this law against selling organs anyway.

Any other thoughts?

I think the Pope knows what he’s talking about here. Generally if it has to do with the black market - the Church doesn’t support it.

Firstly - This is a vital organ you are selling. On the black market. It’s not just a car or a piece of furniture. If this is illegal, who is performing the procedure? What happens if it goes wrong? Will these people take care of you? Will you be covered by insurance?

As regards your religious vocation - have you a spiritual director or vocation director. I am discerning religious life at the moment and it is vital to have these people to advise you in spiritual matters.

I really hope your situation improves and I promise to keep you in my prayers.

God Bless…

 

[smndtupidisaftr]

I think the Pope knows what he’s talking about here. Generally if it has to do with the black market - the Church doesn’t support it.

I don’t see why this need be so. The black market is great when you have horrible laws that hamper economic activity in a country.

Firstly - This is a vital organ you are selling. On the black market. It’s not just a car or a piece of furniture. If this is illegal, who is performing the procedure? What happens if it goes wrong? Will these people take care of you? Will you be covered by insurance?

These are all things to consider, to be sure, but assuming all of this is fine, you have another kidney. Like I said, it’s not at the level of giving up a heart.

As regards your religious vocation - have you a spiritual director or vocation director. I am discerning religious life at the moment and it is vital to have these people to advise you in spiritual matters.

I really hope your situation improves and I promise to keep you in my prayers.

God Bless…

 

[Julia_Mae]

Hi. I’m a young woman who is considering the possibility of the religious life, so I am ashamed to be asking this, but…what is the Church’s stance on selling a kidney on the black market? I am aware of this being illegal by our government, but am drowning in debt and I would like to give someone a kidney and possibly save or improve his or her life. But I would not consider doing this if it were a terrible sin…Please know, I am desperate for a few thousand dollars to pay for two root canals and pay my parents back so that I can enter the religious order I feel I am called to…Thanks. God Bless!

If you trust God, you pray and accept. If you don’t, you do something abysmally foolish like selling a kidney.

If I spoke out against this as strongly as I feel at this moment, I’d get banned. If you know someone who trafficks in body parts, give the information to the District Attorney or the FBI. Or both.

 

[Maria1993]

Yes. It’s Immoral.
You would be supporting the Black Market. The same market that sells children for less then animals. Theres a good article about this and how they use children for exploitation.
As for the “Dr” who would be performing this. I pray that you find an alternative option.

 

[smndtupidisaftr]

Yes. It’s Immoral.
You would be supporting the Black Market. The same market that sells children for less then animals. Theres a good article about this and how they use children for exploitation.
As for the “Dr” who would be performing this. I pray that you find an alternative option.

I have to object to this statement. The characterization of the black market in such a way is deplorable. There is no entity known as the black market. The black market is made up of individuals. As such, the person selling drugs on the black market is very different from the person selling Big Gulps in New York.

Just because something occurs on the Black Market does not mean that it is immoral. We need to judge the individual actions, not characterize them based upon the other deplorable actions that most certainly are illegal and immoral.

 

[Maria1993]

I have to object to this statement. The characterization of the black market in such a way is deplorable. There is no entity known as the black market. The black market is made up of individuals. As such, the person selling drugs on the black market is very different from the person selling Big Gulps in New York.

Just because something occurs on the Black Market does not mean that it is immoral. We need to judge the individual actions, not characterize them based upon the other deplorable actions that most certainly are illegal and immoral.

Big gulps…no Black Market is better than the other. There is always alternatives to make money.
Im not here to argue with anyone. They asked for OUR thoughts, and I gave mine. That’s it.

 

[Just_Lurking]

Here is a story about this: Organs for Sale: Impoverished Bangladeshis Try to Sell Kidneys on Black Market, End Up Poor and Ill

 

[AdamP88]

I don’t see why this need be so. The black market is great when you have horrible laws that hamper economic activity in a country.

These are all things to consider, to be sure, but assuming all of this is fine, you have another kidney. Like I said, it’s not at the level of giving up a heart.

The idea that the economy is so important really annoys me. So important that it trumps people’s lives and well-being. Debt can be paid off…health is not something you should squander. You only have one life and that’s why it’s immoral to risk yourself by selling a bodypart illegally.

We do have two kidney’s for a reason. My grandfather recently had a kidney out due to cancer and there were unforeseen complications as a result of the operation. (Thankfully he is ok now)

If you get complications after the removal of your kidney…they can be fatal.

The selling of organs is evil…because it promotes the reduction of a human being to mere spare parts.

By the way…why the confused smiley? I was merely addressing the part of the OP’s question that referred to religious life…??

 

[ThirstyOne]

Wow. Ok there are some really rude comments on this. Thanks for those who answered my question respectfully. It was honestly* just a question*. And no, it was not a joke. Thanks for making me feel so “great” about myself.

I will not sell my kidney if the Pope says not to. Out of Holy Obedience I will reconsider and try to find other ways of making the $3,000…I agree there should be some compensation for donors and the law should be re-planned. And NO, it is NOT a viable organ. I am not selling my heart or my eyes…you have two kidneys for a reason.

By the way, does anyone know how to delete their account?

 

[meltzerboy]

I don’t know the official position on this (if there is one), but I don’t see why not. You’re not going to die if you give up a kidney and in fact you are probably going to save someone else’s life in the process. Just looking at that it seems as innocuous as giving blood. Yes I know, giving a kidney involves much more, but it is not going to kill you. Now, is there anything wrong with selling the kidney? Not as far as I can see. You can sell the products that you make and the fruit of your labor, and there is no ethical dilemma involved here. Why should it be different with a kidney? I just want to continue stressing, though, that giving up your heart or something that is vital to your life is quite different as this seems tantamount to suicide. As for breaking the law, I wouldn’t be concerned about it. I really don’t like this law against selling organs anyway.

Any other thoughts?

Because you don’t like a law, does that mean you shouldn’t be concerned about breaking it? I don’t like paying income taxes, but I certainly would be concerned about tax evasion.

 

[Aeden]

To sell a kidney or other organ would risk making the body, something God gave us, seem to be a simple object with little respect due to it. That alone is immoral.

Compound with it the fact that the black market is, by it’s very nature illegal, and the act of selling a kidney or any other body part on the black market is a sin.

 

[Maria1993]

Wow. Ok there are some really rude comments on this. Thanks for those who answered my question respectfully. It was honestly* just a question*. And no, it was not a joke. Thanks for making me feel so “great” about myself.

I will not sell my kidney if the Pope says not to. Out of Holy Obedience I will reconsider and try to find other ways of making the $3,000…I agree there should be some compensation for donors and the law should be re-planned. And NO, it is NOT a viable organ. I am not selling my heart or my eyes…you have two kidneys for a reason.

By the way, does anyone know how to delete their account?

What people I knew do and earned over a thousand dollars, they made food platters, homemade meal, dessert, and a drink for 5-7 dollars. They needed it for funerals, and to help needy familes. Please look into that. They would sell little tickets and people.would buy. The outcome was great. I apologize if I came off rude, and God Bless you and your Vocation calling.

 

[AdamP88]

I have to object to this statement. The characterization of the black market in such a way is deplorable. There is no entity known as the black market. The black market is made up of individuals. As such, the person selling drugs on the black market is very different from the person selling Big Gulps in New York.

Just because something occurs on the Black Market does not mean that it is immoral. We need to judge the individual actions, not characterize them based upon the other deplorable actions that most certainly are illegal and immoral.

This is ridiculous…

Yes…the “black market” does not actually refer to a place one may go to buy illegal stuff. But it is not made up of just individuals either. Drug dealing, prostitution, child pornography etc. all are organised by groups…as is trafficking of body parts.

I can’t really think of any moral black market activity - all of them require breaking the commandment - Thou Shalt Not Steal.

By using black markets we take resources from society and from the government (I say that with great reluctance ).

But Jesus did say:
“Render onto Ceaser, what is Ceaser’s and onto Rome what is Rome’s”

 

[meltzerboy]

Hi. I’m a young woman who is considering the possibility of the religious life, so I am ashamed to be asking this, but…what is the Church’s stance on selling a kidney on the black market? I am aware of this being illegal by our government, but am drowning in debt and I would like to give someone a kidney and possibly save or improve his or her life. But I would not consider doing this if it were a terrible sin…Please know, I am desperate for a few thousand dollars to pay for two root canals and pay my parents back so that I can enter the religious order I feel I am called to…Thanks. God Bless!

Even though one can live a normal life with only one kidney, I would advise you to hold on to both your kidneys just in case one of them malfunctions in the future. This is apart from the Church’s stance on the issue and the ethics as well as dangers involved in trafficking body organs on the black market.

 

[smndtupidisaftr]

The idea that the economy is so important really annoys me. So important that it trumps people’s lives and well-being.

Like I said. Selling a vital organ is completely different. Selling a kidney is different because it will not kill you. There are risks, but there are also risks with police life and construction, yet these are not immoral. I think that this is more of a gray area than it is being made out to be.

Debt can be paid off…health is not something you should squander. You only have one life and that’s why it’s immoral to risk yourself by selling a bodypart illegally.

We do have two kidney’s for a reason. My grandfather recently had a kidney out due to cancer and there were unforeseen complications as a result of the operation. (Thankfully he is ok now)

If you get complications after the removal of your kidney…they can be fatal.

The selling of organs is evil…because it promotes the reduction of a human being to mere spare parts.

Then what is the distinction between selling blood and selling non-vital organs?

By the way…why the confused smiley? I was merely addressing the part of the OP’s question that referred to religious life…??

I was confused because I thought that part was in reference to me.

 

[smndtupidisaftr]

This is ridiculous…

Yes…the “black market” does not actually refer to a place one may go to buy illegal stuff. But it is not made up of just individuals either. Drug dealing, prostitution, child pornography etc. all are organised by groups…as is trafficking of body parts.

I can’t really think of any moral black market activity - all of them require breaking the commandment - Thou Shalt Not Steal.

By using black markets we take resources from society and from the government (I say that with great reluctance ).

But Jesus did say:
“Render onto Ceaser, what is Ceaser’s and onto Rome what is Rome’s”

What about the selling of prescription drugs trafficked into the country from Canada to those who need the medication but cannot afford the prices in the US?