Religious views on genetically modified foods

Religious views on genetically modified foods have been mixed, although as yet, no genetically modified foods ("GM" foods) have been designated as unacceptable by religious authorities.[1]

Background and history

Judaism

There is no consensus in the views of Jewish religious leaders, scholars and commentators on whether Jews can eat GM food products or engage in research in the area of GM food technology.[2]

One perspective emphasizes that humanity was created in God's image and this means that humanity can "partner with God in the perfection of everything in the world," and therefore Jewish law accepts genetic engineering to save and prolong human life as well as increase the quality or quantity of the world's food supply.[2]

Other perspectives hold that GM food technology is a violation of Kil'ayim, the mixed breeding of crops or livestock, and that because God made "distinctions in the natural world", Jews must honor them.[2]

From the perspective of kosher laws, food made with genes from pigs or other non-kosher animals would likely be nonkosher.[3]

Islam

Islam too forbids eating of pork, and Islamic scholars have also raised concern about the theoretical production of foods with genes from pigs.[4]

And there are varying perspectives. A seminar of Islamic scholars in Kuwait on genetics and genetic engineering in October 1998 concluded that although there are fears about the possibility of the harmful effects of GM food technology and GM food products on human beings and the environment, there are no laws within Islam which stop the genetic modification of food crops and animals.[2] And in 2003, the Indonesian Ulemas Council (MUI) approved the importation and consumption of genetically modified food products by Indonesian Muslims.[2] Others have written that while there are Quranic verses forbidding humanity from defacing God's creation, these "cannot be invoked as a total and radical ban on genetic engineering ... If carried too far, it would conflict with many forms of curative surgery that also entail some change in God's creation".[2]

Voices in opposition to GMOs argue that there is no need for genetic modification of food crops because God created everything perfectly and man does not have any right to manipulate anything that God has created.[2]

Christianity

Roman Catholic Church

Views of Rome on genetic engineering In 1999, after two years of discussions, the Vatican's Pontifical Academy for Life stated that modifying the genes of plants and animals is theologically acceptable. The Guardian reported that "Bishop Elio Sgreccia, vice- president of the pontifical academy, said: 'We are increasingly encouraged that the advantages of genetic engineering of plants and animals are greater than the risks. The risks should be carefully followed through openness, analysis and controls, but without a sense of alarm.' Referring to genetically modified products such as corn and soya, Sgreccia added: 'We give it a prudent 'yes' We cannot agree with the position of some groups that say it is against the will of God to meddle with the genetic make-up of plants and animals.'"[5][6]

In 2000 as part of the Great Jubilee Pope John Paul II gave an address concerning agriculture, at which he said: The "famous words of Genesis entrust the earth to man's use, not abuse. They do not make man the absolute arbiter of the earth's governance, but the Creator's "co-worker": a stupendous mission, but one which is also marked by precise boundaries that can never be transgressed with impunity. This is a principle to be remembered in agricultural production itself, whenever there is a question of its advance through the application of biotechnologies, which cannot be evaluated solely on the basis of immediate economic interests. They must be submitted beforehand to rigorous scientific and ethical examination, to prevent them from becoming disastrous for human health and the future of the earth."[7][8]

Other studies and statements

A 2002 meeting between bishops and scientists in the Philippines concluded that biotechnology could be an important stepping stone in the struggle against hunger and environmental pollution.[9]

A 2003 symposium gathered by Cardinal Renato T. Martino has examined the use of GMOs in modern agriculture.[10] The symposium's study argued that the future of humanity is at stake and that there is no room for the ideological arguments advanced by environmentalists.[11] Velasio De Paolis, a professor of canon law at the Pontifical Urban University, has said that it was "easy to say no to GM food if your stomach is full".[11]

In 2008, Fr. Sean McDonagh, an Irish Columban priest and "well-known commentator on environmental issues", questioned whether hosts from transgenic wheat could ever be approved by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith because of the Church's strict rules regarding sacramental bread. He specifically cited canon 924, which stipulates the bread must be wheaten only, and recently made, so that there is no danger of corruption.[12]

A 2009 study on genetically modified organisms sponsored by the Pontifical Academy of Sciences came to a favorable conclusion on GMOs, viewing them as praiseworthy for improving the lives of the poor.[13]

Philippines

The Philippines is a predominantly Catholic country, and official pronouncements of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) exert a strong influence in policy making and the CBCP has not supported biotechnology, and probably will not until there is an official endorsement from the Pope.[14] President Arroyo’s visit to Rome on September 27, 2003, she apparently consulted Pope John Paul II about the Church position on biotechnology. On the basis of that meeting, she issued a statement indicating that she felt it was important that opponents of GMOs knew that according to the Vatican, GMOs are not immoral.[14] The CBCP issued a statement in response stating that the Pope had not endorsed GMOs.[15] In 2009 Bishop Vicente Navarra of the Diocese of Bacolod in the Philippines issued a pastoral letter calling on the Negros Occidental and Bacolod City governments to continue banning the entry of GMO products.[16]

Anglican communion

In 2004, the Church Environmental Network, representing members of the Anglican church of South Africa,[17] spoke out against the South African government's backing of genetically modified organisms (GMOs).[18]

Christian Aid, a British ecumenical group, released a paper in 2000 that expressed sharp concerns about the agricultural biotechnology industry, particularly with regard to its potential effects on impoverished people and economic development in the developing world.[19]

Amish farmers

About 550 Amish farmers in Pennsylvania have adopted nicotine-free tobacco since 2001, because it pays "about $1.50 per pound for the nicotine-free tobacco, nearly double the 80-cent-per-pound rate for traditional tobacco.[20] GMO crops do not conflict with the Amish lifestyle.[21]

Rastafarian

While the Rastafari Movement as a whole has no central authority, a Rastafari Code of Conduct was ratified in July–August 2008 at a meeting in Jamaica of the Nyah Binghi Order, one of the three houses of the Rastafari movement; that Code defines GM food as not Ital.[22]

References

1. Food Biotechnology in the United States: Science, Regulation, and Issues Congressional Research Service: The Library of Congress 2001
2. Omobowale EB, Singer PA, Daar AS. (2009) The three main monotheistic religions and gm food technology: an overview of perspectives. BMC Int Health Hum Rights. 2009 Aug 22;9:18.
3. Steven M. Druker, Executive Director, Alliance for Bio-Integrity (1997) Are Genetically Engineered Foods in Accord with Jewish Law? Published on Ag Biotech InfoNet
4. Islam and GMOs Archived 2009-04-30 at the Wayback Machine
5. Antony Barnett for the Guardian. November 27, 1999 GM food: special report. Vatican theologians say 'prudent yes' to GM foods
6. C.S. Prakash for AgBioWorld. June 15, 2001. The Catholic Church is Not against the Use of Biotechnology in Agriculture But Simply Advocates Prudence and Regulation
7. John Pail II. 11 November 2000 Address to the Jubilee of the Agricultural World.
8. Eric Lyman (2000) Pope Expresses Opposition to GMOs, Cites Need for 'the Respect of Nature' Daily Report for Executives 221:A-6. Bureau of National Affairs, Inc., ISSN 1523-567X
9. Biotechnology seen as a key help for developing countries
10. Symposium Looking at Genetically Modified Organisms Archived 2009-06-27 at the Wayback Machine
11. Vatican says GM food is a Blessing
12. Jerome Reilly for Independent.ie August 24, 2008 Eucharist from GM wheat 'contravenes canon law'
13. Vatican study endorses GMOs for food security
14. Liborio S. Cabanilla, University of the Philippines at Los Banos. (2007)Socio-Economic and Political Concerns for GM Foods and Biotechnology Adoption in the Philippines. AgBioForum, 10(3), 178-183.
15. Staff. Asia Africa Intelligence Wire. October 03, 2003 CBCP refutes GMA on GMOs Originally published in Philippine Daily Inquirer
16. Bishop issues pastoral letter backing anti-GMO stance
17. "Celebrating God's Creation: Ukuvuyisana Ngendalo kaThixo" ENVIRONMENT NETWORK Archived 2008-11-21 at the Wayback Machine
18. Environmental Writer for Independent Online News. December 6, 2004 Anglican church group hits at government stand on GMOs
19. Christian Aid International Policy Briefing Jan 2000 Biotechnology and genetically modified organisms Archived 2014-03-27 at the Wayback Machine
20. Davis, Joshua, [www.wired.com/wired/archive/11.02/smoking.html "Come to LeBow Country"] Wired, February 2003
21. "Amish Farmers Grow Biotech Tobacco, Potatoes". Council for Biotechnology Information. n.d. Archived from the original on 2008-01-01. Retrieved 2008-12-31.
22. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2013-05-24. Retrieved 2014-01-07.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)