Hello, Dolly, over and over and over again

The news this week that a sheep in Scotland named Dolly had been cloned has naturally raised all sorts of scientific, legal, ethical and moral questions, many of which the Catholic Church has addressed and will, no doubt, address again. Chief among those questions is whether human cloning should be permitted. The answer is no.

Two articles on page 14 this week about the Human Genome Project provide some guidance on how we should approach the topic of genetic engineering in general and cloning in particular. While the prospect of cloning fruits, vegetables and animals offers potential advantages in terms of better harvests, healthier foods and more effective treatments for diseases, and while genetic engineering holds possibilities of aiding human beings, the cloning of people is wrong from a number of angles:

* Cloning interferes with the natural process of human conception;

* Cloning, like other "test-tube" processes, requires the creation and destruction of multiple human embryos;

* Cloning tempts people to duplicate themselves so that they can have replacement parts, turning "clones," who would be distinct individuals, into disposable creatures farmed for their organs;

* Cloning leads to eugenics, the creation of people who are "perfect," probably according to a definition established by the state. That inevitably leads to defining human value on the basis of appearance, race, physical ability, intelligence and other factors.

Genetic research, properly conducted, rigidly supervised, ethically guided and carefully performed, holds much promise for achieving great good down the road. But human cloning must be taken off the list of the avenues humankind is going to travel.

Immediate prohibitive action by governments, scientific organizations, medical societies and other relevant agencies is required so that the next Dolly is not a baby.

(02-27-97)

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