Cloning humans from the perspective of the christian churches

The announcement of the birth of Dolly the cloned sheep evoked widespread response from the Christian Churches. These responses are identified, organized thematically, and discussed critically. The churches have viewed reproductive human cloning either with unqualified opposition or with grave suspicion. Some statements have discussed animal cloning, generally granting limited approval, and nonreproductive human cloning, either in opposition or expressing an openness to entertain specific proposals as the technology develops. This paper is based on a presentation at the 164th Annual Meeting of The American Association for the Advancement of Science (1998), Philadelphia, in the session entitled The Rights and Wrongs of Cloning Humans, February 13, 1998.