Russian Church preparing document on its view of genome research

Moscow, February 27, 2018

The document notes that the Russian Church approves of research “which could help fight certain diseases and harmful viruses.”

Photo: pravoslavie.fm Photo: pravoslavie.fm
    

The Russian Orthodox Church is currently preparing a document which will specify its position on the question of genome research. Metropolitan Hilarion (Alfeyev) of Volokolamsk, the Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations, addressed the issue on a recent episode of the “Church and the World” television program, reports TASS.

“We’re preparing a Church document that will specify the position of the Church on this issue [genome research]. The most important criteria for us is the moral criteria: If we’re talking about scientific research that could help fight certain diseases and harmful viruses, that could help people restore their health, then we, of course, support such methods,” the metropolitan stated.

“But if we’re talking about interference in something that rightfully belongs only to the Creator Himself, then here we oppose such interference. For example, everything relating to the potential cloning of people—from a moral point of view we say that such cloning is unacceptable,” Met. Hilarion added.

On February 8, at a meeting of the Council for Science and Education devoted to issues of the global competitiveness of Russian science, President Vladimir Putin called for the speedy development of a program for large-scale genomic research in the Russian Federation.

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2/27/2018

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Comments
Momcilo2/28/2018 9:03 am
Thank you "concerned" with that comment. If that is true, than I can't see Russian Orthodox Church approving this research in any case. Why would the Church accept this type of research even if it is for the benefit and health of people, if the research involves using embryonic stem cells?
Concerned2/27/2018 7:10 pm
Much of this genomic research uses embryonic stem cells (fertilized human emrbyos, also known as a human being in their earliest stages of developement) and various tissues procured from aborted children.
Where do you think all of those butchered parts sold off from Planned Parenthood and similar others are going? To medical schools and science labs. What do you think bioengineering means? I would advise extreme caution and care with "large-scale genomic research." Even if a government lays out very specific ethical parameters that are not to be crossed. What happens after a decade goes by and different politicians are in power and the scientists are begging them for more leeway?
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