Memorandum by The Christadelphian
I refer to the letter from Baroness Howarth
of Breckland and thank you for the courtesy extended to the Christadelphians
in affording us the opportunity to comment on these issues.
QUESTION 1
Christadelphians seek to adhere to the statutes
and conventions of the countries (and European States) in which
they reside wherever possible, except where these are believed
to be in conflict with the laws of God. In the absence of specific
instructions in the Scriptures about organ donation, the Christadelphian
movement has not legislated on the issue. In this, as in a number
of other matters (eg donation of blood and receiving blood transfusions)
the matter is left to individual members to apply Scriptural principles
in accordance with their own consciences. Consequently, organ
donation and transplants are not at present considered ethically
problematic within the context of Christadelphian religious beliefs.
QUESTION 2
Because organ donation is an individual matter
that has not been formally discussed by us, it is difficult to
be certain about opinion. But it is believed that there would
be a significant proportion of Christadelphians—and almost
certainly over half—who would find organ donation ethically
problematic and who would oppose it for themselves and their families
on grounds of conscience and their interpretation of the Scriptures.
This opposition would be based on the Christadelphian understanding
of God being the author of life, on the accepting of God's will
in our lives (to varying degrees), on the Scripture that our bodies
are not our own but are for the glory of God and on our belief
in a physical (bodily) resurrection at the second coming of the
Lord Jesus Christ.
QUESTION 3
You will appreciate from the comments above
that, as a "Faith Group", Christadelphians could not
object to a system of presumed consent in relation to organ donation
provided that there was provision for individuals to exercise
their conscience and choose to opt out.
QUESTION 4
In view of our response to Question 3, whilst
it is felt that a majority of Christadelphians may wish
to opt out, many would wish to opt in. There is not perceived
to be any great advantage in the possibility of a Group opt out
and there may be potential practical problems in such a system
depending on how it was to operate.
In summary, therefore, many Christadelphians
would have concerns about the restrictions on freedom that legislation
governing organ donation would bring, but as an organisation,
could not seek special treatment in the matter as long as legislation
allowed for the exercise of an individual's religious conscience.
20 February 2008
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