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The Church's Position on Embryonic Stem-cell Research
Embryonic stem cells are back in the news, so I thought it might be worth reminding everyone of the Church's position. It can be found in two places that I know of.
First:
Misstatement: “Mormons, for example, oppose abortion, but find some embryonic stem cell research morally acceptable. According to Mormon belief, life does not begin until a human embryo attaches to the mother's uterus after about 14 days. That is the moment, according to Mormon theology, at which the human spirit joined with human flesh and a resulting full human being is created.”Also:
Fact: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has no official position on the moment that human life begins. Further, the Church has not taken a position on the issue of embryonic stem-cell research.
The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has not taken a position regarding the use of embryonic stem cells for research purposes. The absence of a position should not be interpreted as support for or opposition to any other statement made by Church members, whether they are for or against embryonic stem cell research.
Okay, time for a quiz. True or false?
1. According the the Church, life begins at conception.
2. The Church opposes research using stem cells derived from embryos.
3. According to the Church, embryonic stem-cell research is acceptable because the embryos do not have a spirit.
4. The Church's official position on when life begins and the morality of embryonic stem cells is that it has no position.
5. Any Church member, including priesthood leaders, who makes definitive statements about the Church's position for or against these matters (absent new official communication) is misinformed.
Answers:
1. False
2. False
3. False
4. True
5. True
2 comments:
This does not mean that viable human embryos are up for grabs. The Church has a clear and long-standing position against abortion, except under very rare circumstances. However, after the life of an embryo is terminated, what happens to the mortal remains is apparently outside the scope of Church policy.
The moment human life begins is not a matter of official Church position. Modern a postles teach that it is a matter of fact:
Russell M. Nelson: "In the course of my studies as a medical doctor, I learned that a new life begins when two special cells unite to become one cell, bringing together 23 chromosomes from the father and 23 from the mother. These chromosomes contain thousands of genes. In a marvelous process involving a combination of genetic coding by which all the basic human characteristics of the unborn person are established, a new DNA complex is formed. A continuum of growth results in a new human being. Approximately 22 days after the two cells have united, a little heart begins to beat. At 26 days the circulation of blood begins. To legislate when a developing life is considered 'meaningful' is presumptive and quite arbitrary, in my opinion." (Ensign, Oct. 2008.)
James E. Faust: "Some say, as did the Supreme Court of the United States, that it is only a theory that human life is present from conception. This is contrary to insurmountable medical evidence. Dr. Bernard N. Nathanson recently revealed that he was among those who were militantly outspoken in favor of legalized abortion and joined in using every device available in political action to promote it. He helped set up and became director of the first and largest abortion clinic in the western world. After the center had performed some sixty thousand abortions, Dr. Nathanson resigned as director. He said, 'I am deeply troubled by my own increasing certainty that I had in fact presided over 60,000 deaths. There is no longer serious doubt in my mind that human life exists within the womb from the very onset of pregnancy.' " (Ensign, May 1975.)
Gary,
You are right that the Church opposes (with qualifications) abortion--which is the termination of pregnancy. That there is no policy about embryonic-stem cell research (which has nothing to do with pregnancy) suggests that either the Brethren do not equate the two, or that there is diversity of opinion on the matter.
I also note that the Church gives limited guidance on in vitro fertilization, remaining entirely silent on the disposition of unused embryos.
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