Genetic Manipulations a Sin?

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Not that I worry much what the Pope thinks of me these days, but I was a bit startled to see that him list a brand-spankin'-new sin: performing genetic manipulations.

When asked to list the new areas of sinful behavior, Girotti denounced "certain violations of the fundamental rights of human nature through experiments, genetic manipulations."

Guess what I do all day? Yeah, over-express and manipulate genes (to try to regenerate hair cells and restore hearing). I wonder if the Pope would grant me a pardon due to the altruistic nature of my work? Doubtful.

Now does that include gene therapy? A bone marrow transplant? What about siRNA therapy? Or drugs that may one day repair genetic mutations? The Pope needs to be a bit more scientific in his sinful declarations...or perhaps that would just be too ironic.

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Oh please, the Catholic Church took how many years to forgive Galileo? Do we expect their pronouncements now to have any basis in reality?

Did they mean any genetic manipulations? I assumed they meant those that changed what it meant to be human, like monkey-men and what not. The adjective "certain," as opposed to "any," seems pretty key.

By El Christador (not verified) on 10 Mar 2008 #permalink

Actually, rephrasing needed on that previous comment. It's not the fact that it was "certain" rather than "any", since certain qualifies "violations of the fundamental rights of human nature." Nonetheless, it doesn't sound to me like they're objecting to all genetic manipulations, just those that threaten the essence of being human, whatever that might be.

By El Christador (not verified) on 10 Mar 2008 #permalink

I'd better hide my EcoR1 just in case the Spanish Inquisition turns up (not that I'm expecting them...).

Who do you think El Christador is? :)

Sigmund:
Nobody expects The Spanish Inquisition!!

nice set up

If people were wondering if Pope Benedict XVI would steer the church to the right, I think they have their answer. There was a time before Pope John Paul II, when the church was more intelligent and forward-looking. Right now, it looks like the appeal of blunt, over-simplified rule-making is carrying the day.

I have a pet theory that as the world gets more complex, simple rules and fundamentalism will become more popular. The theory seems to be working so far.

so knowingly exposing myself to mutagens - is that sinful too? As in sunbathing?

"Now does that include gene therapy? A bone marrow transplant? What about siRNA therapy? Or drugs that may one day repair genetic mutations? The Pope needs to be a bit more scientific in his sinful declarations...or perhaps that would just be too ironic."

El Christador is right in noting that the word "certain" was used. If you're going to comment on a news piece about Catholicism (even an idiotic one) you should educate yourself about what the catholic Church actually teaches and what its moral theology actually considers to be wrong. What Catholic moral theologians have you actually read/consulted on this question?

By Alphonsus (not verified) on 26 May 2009 #permalink