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- AME and AME Zion (African Methodist Episcopal)
Organ and tissue donation is viewed as an act of neighborly love and charity
by these denominations. They encourage all members to support donation
as a way of helping others.
- Amish
The Amish will consent to transplantation if they believe it is for the well-being
of the transplant recipient. John Hostetler, world renowned authority on
Amish religion and professor of anthropology at Temple University in Philadelphia,
says in his book, Amish Society, "The Amish believe that since
God created the human body, it is God who heals." However, nothing in the
Amish understanding of the Bible forbids them from using modern medical
services, including surgery, hospitalization, dental work, anesthesia,
blood transfusions or immunization."
- Assembly of God
The church has no official policy regarding organ and tissue donation. The
decision to donate is left up to the individual. Donation is highly supported
by the denomination.
- Baptist
Though Baptists generally believe that organ and tissue donation and transplantation
are ultimately matters of personal conscience, the nation's largest protestant
denomination, the Southern Baptist Convention, adopted a resolution in
1988 encouraging physicians to request organ donation in appropriate circumstances
and to "encourage voluntarism regarding organ donations in the spirit
of stewardship, compassion for the needs of others and alleviating suffering." Other
Baptist groups have supported organ and tissue donation as an act of charity
and leave the decision to donate up to the individual.
- Brethren
While no official position has been taken by the Brethren denominations,
according to Pastor Mike Smith, there is a consensus among the National
Fellowship of Grace Brethren that organ and tissue donation and transplantation
is a charitable act so long as it does not impede the life or hasten the
death of the donor or does not come from an unborn child.
- Buddhism
Buddists believe that organ/tissue donation is a matter of individual conscience
and place high value on acts of compassion. Reverend Gyomay Masao, president
and founder of the Buddhist Temple of Chicago, says, "We honor those people
who donate their bodies and organs to the advancement of medical science
and to saving lives." The importance of letting loved ones know your wishes
is stressed.
- Roman Catholic
Catholics view organ/tissue donation as an act of charity and love. Transplants
are morally and ethically acceptable to the Vatican. According to Father
Leroy Wickowski, Director of the Office of Health Affairs of the Archdiocese
of Chicago, "We encourage donation as an act of charity. It is something
good that can result from tragedy and a way for families to find comfort
by helping others." Pope John Paul II has stated, "The Catholic Church
would promote the fact that there is a need for organ donors and that Christians
should accept this as a 'challenge to their generosity and fraternal love'
so long as ethical principles are followed."
- Christian Church
The Christian Church encourages organ and tissue donation, stating that we
were created for God's glory and for sharing God's love. A 1985 resolution
adopted by the General Assembly encourages "members of the Christian
Church (Disciples of Christ) to enroll as organ donors and prayerfully
support those who have received an organ transplant."
- Christian Science
The Church of Christ Scientist does not have a specific position regarding
organ donation. According to the First Church of Christ Scientist in Boston,
Christian Scientists normally rely on spiritual rather than medical means
for healing. They are free, however, to choose whatever form of medical
treatment they desire — including a transplant. The question of organ/tissue
donation is an individual decision.
- Episcopal
Tthe Episcopal Church passed a resolution in 1982 that recognizes the life-giving
benefits of organ, blood and tissue donation. All Christians are encouraged
to become organ, blood and tissue donors "as part of their ministry to
others in the name of Christ, who gave His life that we may have life in
its fullness."
- Greek Orthodox
According to Reverend Dr. Milton Efthimiou, director of the Department of
Church and Society for the Greek Orthodox Church of North and South America, "the
Greek Orthodox Church is not opposed to organ donation as long as the organs
and tissue in question are used to better human life, i.e., for transplantation
or for research that will lead to improvements in the treatment and prevention
of disease."
- Gypsies
Gypsies are a people of different ethnic groups without a formalized religion.
They share common folk beliefs and tend to be opposed to organ donation.
Their opposition is connected with their beliefs about the afterlife. Traditional
belief contends that for one year after death the soul retraces its steps.
Thus, the body must remain intact because the soul maintains its physical
shape.
- Hinduism
According to the Hindu Temple Society of North America, Hindus are not prohibited
by religious law from donating their organs. This act is an individual's
decision. H.L. Trivedi, in Transplantation Proceedings, stated
that, "Hindu mythology has stories in which the parts of the human
body are used for the benefit of other humans and society. There is nothing
in the Hindu religion indicating that parts of humans, dead or alive, cannot
be used to alleviate the suffering of other humans."
- Independent Conservative Evangelical
Generally, evangelicals have no opposition to organ and tissue donation.
Each church is autonomous and leaves the decision to donate up to the individual.
- Islam
The religion of Islam believes in the principle of saving human lives. According
to A. Sachedina in his Transplantation Proceedings (1990) article, "Islamic
Views on Organ Transplantation," "the majority of the Muslim
scholars belonging to various schools of Islamic law have invoked the principle
of priority of saving human life and have permitted the organ transplant
as a necessity to procure that noble end."
- Jehovah's Witness
According to the Watch Tower Society, Jehovah's Witnesses believe donation
is a matter of individual decision. Jehovah's Witnesses are often assumed
to be opposed to donation because of their belief against blood transfusion.
However, this merely means that all blood must be removed from the organs
and tissues before being transplanted.
- Judaism
All four branches of Judaism (Orthodox, Conservative, Reform and Reconstructionist)
support and encourage donation. According to Orthodox Rabbi Moses Tendler,
chairman of the biology department of Yeshiva University in New York City
and chairman of the Bioethics Commission of the Rabbinical Council of America, "If
one is in the position to donate an organ to save another's life, it is
obligatory to do so, even if the donor never knows who the beneficiary
will be. The basic principle of Jewish ethics — 'the infinite worth
of the human being' — also includes donation of corneas, since eyesight
restoration is considered a life-saving operation." In 1991, the Rabbinical
Council of America (Orthodox) approved organ donations as permissible,
and even required, from brain-dead patients. The Reform movement looks
upon the transplant program favorably and Rabbi Richard Address, director
of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations Bio-Ethics Committee and
Committee on Older Adults, states that "Judaic Responsa materials
provide a positive approach, and by and large the North American Jewish
community approves of transplantation."
- Lutheran
In 1984, the Lutheran Church in America passed a resolution stating that
donation contributes to the well-being of humanity and can be "an expression
of sacrificial love for a neighbor in need." They call on members to consider
donating organs and to make any necessary family and legal arrangements,
including the use of a signed donor card.
- Mormon (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believes that the decision
to donate is an individual one made in conjunction with family, medical
personnel and prayer. They do not oppose donation.
- Presbyterian
Presbyterians encourage and support donation. They respect a person's right
to make decisions regarding his or her own body.
- Seventh-Day Adventist
Donation and transplantation are strongly encouraged by Seventh-Day Adventists.
They have many transplant hospitals, including Loma Linda in California.
Loma Linda specializes in pediatric heart transplantation.
- Shinto
In Shinto, the dead body is considered to be impure and dangerous, and thus
quite powerful. "In folk belief context, injuring a dead body is a
serious crime … ," according to E. Namihira in his article, "Shinto
Concept Concerning the Dead Human Body." "To this day it is difficult
to obtain consent from bereaved families for organ donation or dissection
for medical education or pathological anatomy … the Japanese regard
them all in the sense of injuring a dead body." Families are often
concerned that they not injure the itai, the relationship between
the dead person and the bereaved people.
- Society of Friends (Quaker)
Organ and tissue donation is believed to be an individual decision. The Society
of Friends does not have an official position on donation.
- Unitarian Universalist
Organ and tissue donation is widely supported by Unitarian Universalists.
They view it as an act of love and selfless giving.
- United Church of Christ
Reverend Jay Lintner, director, Washington office of the United Church of
Christ Office for Church in Society, states, "United Church of Christ
people, churches and agencies are extremely and overwhelmingly supportive
of organ sharing. The General Synod has never spoken to this issue because,
in general, the Synod speaks on more controversial issues, and there is
no controversy about organ sharing, just as there is no controversy about
blood donation in the denomination. While the General Synod has never spoken
about blood donation, blood donation rooms have been set up at several
General Synods. Similarly, any organized effort to get the General Synod
delegates or individual churches to sign organ donation cards would meet
with generally positive responses."
- United Methodist
The United Methodist Church issued a policy statement regarding organ and
itissue donation. In it, they state that "The United Methodist Church
recognizes the life-giving benefits of organ and tissue donation, and thereby
encourages all Christians to become organ and tissue donors by signing
and carrying cards or drivers' licenses attesting to their commitment of
such organs upon their death, to those in need, as a part of their ministry
to others in the name of Christ, who gave his life that we might have life
in its fullness." A 1992 resolution states, "Donation is to be
encouraged, assuming appropriate safeguards against hastening death and
determination of death by reliable criteria." The resolution further
states, "Pastoral-care persons should be willing to explore these
options as a normal part of conversation with patients and their families."
Source: SEOPF/UNOS. Organ & Tissue Donation: A Reference
Guide for Clergy. 4th Ed. Cooper ML, Taylor GJ, eds.
Richmond, VA: UNOS; 2000. Reprinted with permission. This resource may
be ordered directly from UNOS: www.unos.org/resources/productCatalog.asp?display=professionalResources
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