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rrammfcitktturjsp012006
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| Joined: | Thu Nov 1st, 2007 |
| Location: | Midland, Texas USA |
| Posts: | 42 |
| First Name: | Anne | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | C of C, Wicca, Satanist, Atheist, Agnostic, Baptist, Unity, and ... |
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Posted: Wed Nov 7th, 2007 12:14 pm |
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To All,
I am a pred-med major at TTU <currently on sabbatical, I guess> and was wanting to go into genetic engineering. Many of my Catholic friends look apalled at me and I do not understand why. I have not bumped into anything more than the CCC does not like stem cell research.
2 questions about this,
1. I understnad that you can get stem cells from other than aborted feteses <dang cant spell the word>, but if the children are aborted anyway, why is it wrong to go and ahead and harvest stem cells. I beleive the CCC does not like it becuase it may see scientists just killing or aborting the babies just to get the stem cells. I know I am heading on to sacred ground here, but only becuase I feel comfortable with you guys to know you do not judge people becuase of questions. There is comfort in asking these hard quesitons on the net to get a basis of an answer rather than asking a someone face to face.
2. Does the Church forbid stem cell research and if one has to do it for their profession, what happens? I know I would have to run across stem cells at one time in another.
I am not sure if it is time to change career paths, but I would hate to err and be in the wrong. I guess now that I am on sabbatical, I had better make up my mind so I can change careers if I have too.
Genetic have always been alluring to me. My branch I wanted to specialize in is stem cells and the reserach and applications for them.
Sincerely,
Anne
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CajunRick
Network Helper
| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Houma, Louisiana USA |
| Posts: | 5353 |
| First Name: | Rick (& Kermie) | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Lifetime Catholic, Latin Rite |
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Posted: Wed Nov 7th, 2007 12:18 pm |
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I just posted a news article on stem cell research last night. You'll find it here. I think it will answer a lot of your questions.
____________________
Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand. - Augustine
Rick Luquette
Luquette Lane
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rrammfcitktturjsp012006
Member
| Joined: | Thu Nov 1st, 2007 |
| Location: | Midland, Texas USA |
| Posts: | 42 |
| First Name: | Anne | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | C of C, Wicca, Satanist, Atheist, Agnostic, Baptist, Unity, and ... |
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Posted: Mon Nov 12th, 2007 12:53 am |
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Rick,
I am confused I just now read the article and saw no where the Church's postion on this or whether researching or doing genetic engineering is wrong? Good article though by the way. It was this article that prompted me to ask the questions in the first place.
In Him,
Anne
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CajunRick
Network Helper
| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Houma, Louisiana USA |
| Posts: | 5353 |
| First Name: | Rick (& Kermie) | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Lifetime Catholic, Latin Rite |
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Posted: Mon Nov 12th, 2007 01:13 am |
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rrammfcitktturjsp012006 wrote: Rick,
I am confused I just now read the article and saw no where the Church's postion on this or whether researching or doing genetic engineering is wrong?
The Church has no philosophical objection to research of any kind. The Church's objections are based on the source of material, and/or the intended purpose of the research.
If the source material requires the destruction of fertilized embryos, the Church objects. If exactly the same research can be undertaken without the destruction of fertilized embryos, the Church approves. Thus, embryonic stem cells from umbilical cord blood are acceptable while the destruction of actual embryos is not. It doesn't matter if the embryos are "left over" from fertility clinics, or whether the parents donate them. Killing them is still murder. The thought that a child can be considered "waste" that can be discarded or destroed is abhorrent to the Church.
If the purpose of genetic engineering is to find a cancer cure that will target a specific tumor, the Church approves. If the purpose of genetic engineering is to guarantee a blue-eyed blonde, the Church objects.
The Church objects to in vitro fertilization, so any type of genetic manipulation of the sperm and egg, or any manipulation of the embryo outside of the womb, is not acceptable.
And, of course, the Church objects to any testing or research performed for the purpose of determining whether to abort the pregnancy.
So the point is that if the purpose is to preserve life, and the process does not destroy life, it is acceptable. If the process destroys life, or if the purpose could in any way deliberately lead to the destruction of life, it is not.
____________________
Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand. - Augustine
Rick Luquette
Luquette Lane
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rrammfcitktturjsp012006
Member
| Joined: | Thu Nov 1st, 2007 |
| Location: | Midland, Texas USA |
| Posts: | 42 |
| First Name: | Anne | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | C of C, Wicca, Satanist, Atheist, Agnostic, Baptist, Unity, and ... |
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Posted: Mon Nov 12th, 2007 01:50 pm |
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Rick,
What can I say, my field that I would want to pursue in this would involve all of this and more. Thanks for your response.
Anne
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