I listened to something about genetic modifications through bioengineering. There’s lots of scientific and ethical questions that come up when people start to do these types of things. For me, what really scares me is that people cannot foresee the implications of what they are doing. For example, I am almost positive that when the first human created fire that person couldn’t imagine that several thousand years later human beings would pollute the air so badly that it would cause global warming. How do we know what will happen if we genetically modify crops, animals, or ourselves? Even if we have an educated guess, there’s no way we could know for certain all the possibilities that could come from our actions. I’m not saying that people shouldn’t use this science. I am just saying that when they use this science, they need to have a healthy respect for the fact they don’t have any idea what is going to happen.
As a Catholic, my feelings are stronger. I have faith in God’s plan and I truly believe that when people act with pride in that they know better what the plan should be, then sin happens. I believe my body was created perfectly with His plan. I may have predisposed tendencies to diseases and traits, but I believe that is His plan. I wouldn’t want to change God’s plan and I wouldn’t want to change it even if I could.
The part about this biomedical engineering that really scares me is that it might become commonplace in future generations. When I was born, these modifications weren’t available. However, in this generation it is possible and in future generations it could be something everyone chooses for their children. The problem for me is that when everyone chooses these modifications for their babies before they are born, those children don’t have a choice. They don’t get to decide if they want to be genetically modified. At least, I get to choose.
I feel a profound sense of sadness realizing that God loved me enough to give me free-will even if it meant living in a world with evil and disease and yet the parents of future generations could decide to take away their children’s free-will just to ensure that they don’t live in a world with genetic diseases. It makes me wonder if we truly understand God’s love at all.
My faith saved me. May God’s peace reside in all of our hearts.
