The Acts of Convention

House of Deputies

The House of Deputies Committee on Social and Urban Affairs presented its Report #11 on Resolution A012 (Caring for Children in the Face of the New Genetics) and moved adoption with amendment.

Original Text of Resolution:

(A012)

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That the 74th General Convention reaffirm the church's traditional teaching about parenting and that children are trusts and gifts from God to be nurtured toward maturity. Therefore:

• Genetic testing of children can be an important part of parental responsibility, and may be carried out if it is clearly in the child's best interests to be tested.
• Parents should make responsible use of medical services, including treatment for genetic diseases and the use of somatic gene transfer therapies if they should be proven safe and effective.
• New genetic techniques may be used in conjunction with in vitro fertilization to avoid procreation of human beings with clearly serious disorders of their DNA or chromosomes.
• It is not morally acceptable to use reproductive cloning at this time for any reason, because the technique constitutes an unsafe form of experimentation on children. It is therefore morally irresponsible for physicians, scientists, and prospective parents to engage in it.

Committee Amendment:

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That the 74th General Convention reaffirm the church's traditional teaching about parenting and that children are trusts and entrusted to us as gifts from God to be nurtured toward maturity. Therefore:

• Genetic testing of children can be an important part of parental responsibility, and may be carried out if it is clearly in the child's best interests to be tested.
• Parents should make responsible use of medical services, including Treatment for genetic diseases and the use of somatic gene transfer therapies may be used if they should be are proven safe and effective.
• New genetic techniques may be used in conjunction with in vitro fertilization to avoid procreation of human beings with clearly serious disorders of their DNA or chromosomes.
• It is not morally acceptable to use reproductive cloning at this time for any reason, because the technique constitutes an unsafe form of experimentation on children. It and it is therefore morally irresponsible for physicians, scientists, and prospective parents to engage in it.

Deputy Simons of Pittsburgh moved to terminate debate on the McGarry amendment and on the main motion.

Motion carried

Debate terminated

A vote was taken on the McGarry amendment.

Motion defeated

Amendment defeated

A vote was taken on Resolution A012 as amended.

Motion carried

Resolution adopted with amendment

(Communicated to the House of Bishops in HD Message #108)