Strong sanctity of life principle

• This view is held by Catholics and some Protestants
• In this view, personhood begins at conception- this is because at the point of fertilisation, a new life comes into existence within a complete genetic blueprint
• There is a continuous development of each life from conception to birth
• From conception, there is an absolute right to life and protection
• This view is supported by scripture such as when God told Jeremiah that he knew him before he was born
• Although the intentions of embryo research are good, they cannot justify an act that in itself is wrong; the end can never justify the means.
• Embryo research is considered sinful for the following reasons:

  • It exploits the inability of the embryo to give consent
  • It disobeys the biblical teaching to protect the most vulnerable in society
  • The destruction of embryos is tantamount to murder
  • The use of PGD is an act of discrimination and could lead to designer babies
• PGD:

  pre-implantation genetic diagnosis; it refers to a technique used to test IVF embryos for genetic diseases
• Direct abortion is a grave offence because it is the unlawful (in the eyes of the Church) killing of a person
• Direct abortion:

  refers to the deliberate termination of a pregnancy, where the death of the embryo/foetus is the intended result