Xenotransplants transplants of animal cells, tissues and organs into a human being are “morally problematic” but “not fundamentally wrong from a Christian point of view”. This technology should therefore be developed with a great deal of prudence. That’s the conclusion of a report on xenotransplants recently published by the working group on “Bioethics and biotechnologies” of the Church and Society Commission of KEK (Conference of European Churches). The report tackles various ethical and moral questions from a Christian point of view: the question of the created order and what runs counter to nature, the relation between man and animal, the human identity and animal organs, the possible alternative technologies. “Although xenotransplants present problematic aspects from a moral point of view says the report we cannot condemn them as fundamentally misguided”. The main motive that justifies them is “ethically sound”, but since this is a technology still in its initial stages, “proceeding gradually could be a good way of putting into practice the ancient virtue of prudence”.
