Therapeutic cloning

[Anthony]

Yesterday I was asked to proof-read an essay by a Russian friend of mine, a law student, on cloning. I thought it was a good essay, which came down heavily against cloning whether for reproductive or therapeutic purposes. In the course of it she often quoted the RC but not the Orthodox position, because she was not sure what the latter was; in particular she had come across some "Orthodox theologians" who had been cited as supporting therapeutic cloning. (I said that some Orthodox theologians would say anything, but as I understood it the Orthodox position was as firmly against therapeutic cloning as the Vatican.)

I would be interested in any comments and references to on-line statements on this subject.

[Father David Moser]

Interesting that your friend is Russian and yet has not come across the very complete and well stated document of the Russian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) regarding social doctrine. It has been published now for a number of years both in Russian and in English on the internet (mospat.ru and others). It really does cover a number of things such as cloning, bioethics, etc.

Archpr. David