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[ Source : Council of Europe
2000: Working Party on Xenotransplantation, Strasbourg, July 2000.
Reprinted with permission. ]
The Council of Europe recently documented the
following religious viewpoints on xenotransplantation:
Baha’i
Xenotransplantation is acceptable, although unnecessary suffering to the
animals should be avoided. Reasons: human beings are different and of higher
order than animals.
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Buddhism
Xenotransplantation is unacceptable, although some individual Buddhists may
avail themselves of xenotransplantation dependent upon their “stage of
perfection.”
Reasons: Proper ethical conduct reduces hurt and
suffering in both animals and humans since both feel pain in their
consciousness.
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Christianity
A variety of responses toward
xenotransplantation, however, generally accepting. Would want to minimise
suffering of animals.
Reasons: human beings have been given authority to
rule over creation and over animals. Arguments against include: interfering
with creation - playing God.
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Hinduism
Hindus do not believe in transplantation - either allotransplantation or
xenotransplantation, although exceptions might be made to accept an organ. It
is an individual choice.
Reason: the body must remain whole to pass into
the next life. The cow is sacred to Hindus; however, pig and sheep would be
acceptable.
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Judaism
Xenotransplantation is acceptable because the over-riding value in Judaism is
to save life. This over-rides other considerations such as the prohibition on
the consumption of pig flesh. Concerns were raised over safety, the suffering
of the animals, and over interfering with the order of Nature.
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Islam
A
diversity of opinion, but generally xenotransplantation is acceptable. Like the
Jewish tradition there is an emphasis on the preservation of life. Also,
concerns were raised over the suffering of animals and that should be
minimized.
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Sikhism
The
consensus is that xenotransplantation would be acceptable.
Again, like
other religious traditions the minimization of animal suffering is a
priority.
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Native
American
Traditional leaders regard any form of transplantation as
an unacceptable violation of the integrity of the human body, however the
decision whether to accept xenotransplantation is regarded as an individual
one.
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