Our_Bulletin_1_26

Just Clone-ing Around-in Serious Matters

by Lee Moses

On December 27, quite a stir was created when the Raelian cult and its affiliated company Clonaid announced that, through their efforts, the first cloned human baby had been born the previous day. Immediately many religious, political, and even scientific leaders stood up to decry this apparent landmark achievement in the macabre. In proposing a cloning-ban bill in response to this claim, Texas state Senator Jane Nelson said, "I get a pit in my stomach every time I think about the unspeakable horrors that must have occurred in the cloning of this child, especially considering that it takes about 100 attempts for scientists to get it right in cloning an animal." She added, "There is no punishment on earth strong enough for what these people have done"; assuming that the claims of the Raelians and Clonaid were true. Clonaid has since claimed that their efforts have led to the birth of another cloned child on January 3. However, the more time that passes by without providing evidence of their claims, the more probable it seems that their claims are fraudulent. This is not inconceivable, knowing the leader of the Raelians, Claude Vorilhon, avers that he was visited by alien beings from outer space that gave him the name Rael. Mr. Vorilhon bases his entire cult, claiming a membership of fifty-five thousand, upon the supposed revelation received from the aliens - clearly we are not speaking of a group playing with all of its marbles. But does this mean that human cloning could never take place? And what are the moral implications of cloning?

Even if the claims of Clonaid are untrue, from a scientific standpoint it seems that the cloning of human beings is quite conceivable. It was not very long ago that scientific studies concluded that it was impossible that life could be cloned from adult animal cells-yet in 1997 the birth of Dolly, a sheep cloned from an adult, shattered the previously accepted conclusions. According to scientists Lane P. Lester and James C. Hefley, as of 1998, cloning researchers were at 9.9 on a scale of one to ten toward achieving human cloning-five years ago. There still exists some skepticism regarding the possibility of human cloning, but like so many other scientific achievements previously considered "impossible," human cloning might also be attained. But this does not make it ethical.

The progress made thus far in animal cloning indicates that human cloning, if it does take place, will be a nightmare. When cloning the most simple of animals, all manner of defects have been observed; including oversized fetuses, brain abnormalities, immune dysfunction, and lung, kidney, and cardiovascular problems. The problems have been worse in cloning animals classified as primates. And what is worse, the problems are not always immediately observable, yet are a genetic "gallery of horrors," according to Tanja Dominko, who conducted primate cloning research at the Oregon Regional Primate Research Center in Beaverton, Oregon. In view of the current state of cloning technology, many cloning researchers have acknowledged that "it would be wholly irresponsible to try to clone a human being." Although some advocating the cloning of human beings insist that those cloning animals simply do not know what they are doing, none of them has provided evidence that they will be able to clone human beings any more safely than has been done with animals.

Cloning advocate Lee Silver acknowledges,

A basic principle of medical ethics is that doctors should not perform any procedure on human subjects if the risk of harm is greater than the benefit that might be achieved. In the case of cloning, this principle would oblige physicians to refrain from practicing the technology unless they were sure that the risk of birth defects was no greater than that associated with naturally conceived children.

Obviously, cloning technology is nowhere near this point right now. But, if possible, how could the technology improve to be safe? "Of course, the technique will get better," asserts Richard Lewontin, yet admitting in the same breath, "but people are not sheep and there is no way to make cloning work reliably in people except to experiment on people."

Experimentation on human beings, leaving in its wake countless dead and deformed, cannot be acceptable by any standard. Yet Pierre Baldi boldly exclaims,

In my judgment, we do not have much to fear about cloning in the short term, and we have plenty of time to think about its consequences if we begin now. . . . It will take decades for the first human clone to become an adult, and for us to begin to sort out the effects of nature and nurture.

The above statement exemplifies the irresponsible attitude taken by those advocating human cloning. Consequences should be considered before an action is taken, not after-and especially when those consequences include loss of human life.

Even if one day successful cloning is achieved, what type of life would a successful clone have? God instituted the family unit as the means by which a child should be reared, if possible. The concept of human cloning accelerates the mockery society has already made of the family unit. As brother Wayne Jackson points out, "God never intended for people to be cranked off an assembly line like so many pieces of machinery." Indications are that a clone would age unusually rapidly, and would spend life plagued with various health problems.

There is a movement currently taking place to make known the distinction between "reproductive cloning" and "therapeutic cloning." Gregory E. Kaebnick wrote an editorial in the January 2nd issue of The New York Times, complaining, "The distinction between them is in danger of getting lost. And if it does, it could be a severe blow to science." In therapeutic cloning, the goal is not to create a child that will live to become an adult, but simply to create a child that will be used for scientific research-the child will not be allowed to live past the time of being considered an "embryo." The implication of considering therapeutic cloning acceptable and reproductive cloning unacceptable is this-as long as the life begun is designated for scientific use, that life has lesser value than other human life. Two bills regarding cloning have seen the Senate floor in recent days. According to Mr. Kaebrick, "One . . . would ban all cloning research. The other, with bipartisan support, views cloning via its end result, and would allow therapeutic cloning while banning reproductive cloning." This bill, despite the terrible implications of the procedure of cloning itself, looks only at the end result-possible beneficial scientific research. Such a position is the same condemned by Paul-"Let us do evil, that good may come" (Romans 3:8). Yet even the end result would include dead human beings.

Human cloning is an atrocity, an effort by man to "play god." Currently, most Americans agree that it is wrong-a Gallup poll found that 86% of Americans believe cloning should be illegal. But this could change, particularly in the area of "therapeutic cloning." However, God never permits the taking of innocent human life. He said, "Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man" (Genesis 9:6). Cloning does not show the respect for human life that God demands.

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Family News and Notes

Reminder: Next Sunday will be 1st Sunday in a new month a day set aside for Building Fund Contributions. If you are able to contribute to this fund you can do so on that date.

There are dishes in the kitchen from food taken to Suzanne Charlton. If you have some there you need to pick them up as soon as possible.

Please take time to review the letter from Gary W. Summers of Pearl Street church of Christ and the attached brochure regarding the College Workshop scheduled for February 1st.

Also, take a look at The Apologist submitted by brother Bryan Hodge featuring an article by our own Lee Moses.

Christelle Cato has returned home from the hospital and is doing much better.

Lewis Robertson will be having gall bladder surgery on January 29th at 9:45 a.m. at ETMC in Tyler.

Narci Cooper is still in TRMC. She is still very weak and visits need to be limited. She is doing some better but will be in the hospital a while longer.

Justin Barker's last test came back Wednesday. This was a test to see if his body was producing amino acids. The test came back negative and this is good news. He began physical therapy Thursday in Texarkana. He will return to the neurologist on February 19th for more tests.

Hollis Lee is at home, but he returned to his doctor on Thursday. He has lost a lot of blood and the doctor had not found the cause. Further examination and diagnosis is required.

We need to keep all these folks in our prayers, as well as those who are on the prayer list.

PRAYER LIST:

Delores Adams, Justin Barker, Billy Carter, Suzanne Charlton, Narci Cooper, Perry Cooper, Jerry Freeman, Howard Horton, Wade Miller, Meryl Riley, Lewis Robertson, Murphy Ross, Ola Mae Simpson

ALSO: Christelle Cato, Todd Ranes

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I Asked God

author unknown

I asked God to take away my habit. God said, No. It is not for me to take away, but for you to give it up.

I asked God to make my handicapped child whole. God said, No. His spirit is whole, his body is only temporary.

I asked God to grant me patience. God said, No. Patience is a by-product of tribulations; it isn't granted, it is learned.

I asked God to give me happiness. God said, No. I give you blessings; Happiness is up to you.

I asked God to spare me pain. God said, No. Suffering draws you apart from worldly cares and brings you closer to me.

I asked God to make my spirit grow. God said, No. You must grow on your own! But I will prune you to make you fruitful.

I asked God for all things that I might enjoy life. God said, No. I will give you life, so that you may enjoy all things.

I asked God to help me LOVE others, as much as He loves me. God said Ahhhh, finally, you have the idea.

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