Naukowo-badawcza eksploracja ludzkich zarodków w dyskursie bioetyczno-teologicznym wybranych Kościołów ewangelicko-reformowanych
Scientific Exploration into Human Embryos in the Bioethical Discourse of Selected Evangelical Reformed Churches

Summary/Abstract: Biotechnology has provided humankind with powerful instruments which have significantly increased the possibilities of its intervention in nature including in the early stages of the development of the human embryo. Not only a whole range of scientists and public opinion, but also various churches and religious communities have expressed their interest in this issue. Their attention is drawn particularly to the so-called embryonic stem cells, which the medical community hopes will eliminate diseases that are either difficult to cure or incurable. Obtaining these cells is associated with actions that lead to the loss of embryos. Therefore, the question arises if such actions are permissible in relation to conceived life. Discourse on this topic is also conducted by Christian churches. The objective of this article is to present the position of the Evangelical Reformed Church in this respect. In the first section of this article, which is the first publication of bioethical reflection on this topic, the doctrinal basis of Evangelical Reformed bioethical discourse on the status of the human embryo is presented. In the second section of this article, the reflection concentrates on the issue of admissibility of intervention in the life of the conceptus from the perspective of the main streams of Protestantism in the Continental (European) and North American approaches. In the third part, the author focuses on presenting the position of selected Evangelical Reformed Churches about the use of human embryos for scientific research. For the purposes of this presentation, it was decided to conduct a brief review of the official documents of three ecclesiastical organisms: the Evangelical Reformed Church in Poland, the Protestant Church in the Netherlands and the Church of Scotland. The position of the churches mentioned, in contrast to the rich reflection on this issue that has been conducted in the Evangelical Church of Germany (EKD), remains unknown in Poland. The intention of author of this article is to fill in the gaps in Polish scientific literature.

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