THE CLONING OF HUMAN BEINGS: FROM SLIPPERY SLOPE TO LOOMING PRECIPICE

This article looks at the moral imperative for people everywhere, and especially Christian believers around the world, to work toward the reduction and eventual elimination of cloning of human embryos for any reason. Popular media has highlighted horrors of reproductive cloning, but has not done well in providing clarity related to the dangers related to cloning – and the subsequent destruction – of human embryos in the pursuit of stem cells for scientific and medical research. This is especially tragic given that in recent years the reprogramming technique now allows for non-embryonic adult somatic cells to be converted to a state that emulates embryonic stem cell features. A call to action is being made to people of conscience everywhere, and especially to Christians who understand their duty to protect the weak and vulnerable, to promote public policy changes to eliminate any sort of human cloning both in the United States and abroad.