RT Article
T1 THE PLACE OF GOD IN SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY: HOW WILL THE CATHOLIC CHURCH RESPOND?
JF Bioethics
VO 27
IS 1
SP 36
OP 47
A1 Heavey, Patrick
LA English
PB Wiley-Blackwell
YR 2013
UL https://www.ixtheo.de/Record/1781884269
AB Some religious believers may see synthetic biology as usurping God's creative role. The Catholic Church has yet to issue a formal teaching on the field (though it has issued some informal statements in response to Craig Venter's development of a ‘synthetic’ cell). In this paper I examine the likely reaction of the Catholic Magisterium to synthetic biology in its entirety. I begin by examining the Church's teaching role, from its own viewpoint, to set the necessary backround and context for the discussion that follows. I then describe the Church's attitude to science, and particularly to biotechnology. From this I derive a likely Catholic theology of synthetic biology. The Church's teachings on scientific and biotech research show that it is likely to have a generally positive disposition to synbio, if it and its products can be acceptably safe. Proper evaluation of, and protection against, risk will be a significant factor in determining the morality of the research. If the risks can be minimized through regulation or other means, then the Church is likely to be supportive. The Church will also critique the social and legal environment in which the research is done, evaluating issues such as the patenting of scientific discoveries and of life.
K1 biosecurity
K1 biosafety
K1 Biotechnology
K1 Catholic Church and science
K1 theology and science
K1 Religion and science
K1 Synthetic Biology
DO 10.1111/j.1467-8519.2011.01887.x