individual to choose. Most religions consider it a generous act..
AME & AME ZION (African Methodist Episcopal): Organ and
tissue donation is viewed as an act of neighborly love and charity
by these denominations. They encourage all members to support
donation as a way of helping others.
AMISH: Approved if there is a definite indication that the health
of the recipient would improve, but reluctant if the outcome is
questionable.
ASSEMBLY OF GOD: The Church has no official policy in
regards to organ and tissue donation. The decision to donate is
left up to the individual. Donation is highly supported by the
denomination.
BAPTIST: Donation is supported as an act of charity and the
church leaves the decision to donate up to the individual.
BRETHREN: The Church of the Brethren's Annual Conference
in 1993 wrote a resolution on organ and tissue donation in
support and encouragement of donation. They wrote that, "We
have the opportunity to help others out of love for Christ, through
the donation of organs and tissues."
BUDDHISM: Donation is a matter of individual conscience.
CATHOLICISM: Transplants are acceptable to the Vatican and
donation is encouraged as an act of charity.
CHRISTIAN CHURCH (DISCIPLES OF CHRIST): The
Christian Church does not prohibit organ and tissue donation.
They feel that it is a personal decision to be made in conjunction
with family and medical personnel.
CHRISTIAN SCIENCE: No position, leaving it to the individual.
EPISCOPAL: The Episcopal Church passed a resolution in
1982 that recognizes the life-giving benefits of organ, blood, and
tissue donation. All Christians are encouraged to become organ,
blood, and tissue donors "as part of their ministry to others in the
name of Christ, who gave His life that we may have life in its
fullness."
GREEK ORTHODOX: No objection to procedures that
contribute to restoration of health, but donation of the entire body
for experimentation or research is not consistent with tradition.
GYPSIES (ROMANY): Gypsies are a people of different ethnic
groups without a centralized religion. They share common folk
beliefs and tend to be opposed to organ and tissue donation.
Their traditional opposition is cormected with their beliefs about
the aflerlife. Traditional belief contends that for one year after
death, the soul retraces its steps. Thus, the body must remain
intact because the soul maintains its physical shape.
HINDUISM: Donation of organs is a individual decision.
INDEPENDENT CONSERVATIVE EVANGELICAL:
Generally, Evangelicals have no opposition to organ and tissue
donation. Each church is autonomous and leaves the decision to
donate up to the individual.
ISLAM: The religion of Islam strongly believes in the principle of
saving human lives. According to A. Sachedina in his
Transplantation Proceedings' article, Islamic Views on Organ
Transplantation, "the majority of the Muslim scholars belonging
to various schools of Islamic law have invoked the principle of
priority of saving human life and have permitted the organ
transplant as a necessity to procure that noble end."
JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES: Donation is a matter of individual
conscience with provision that all organs and tissues be
completely drained of blood.
JUDAISM: Jews believe that if it is possible to donate an organ
to save a life, it is obligatory to do so. Since restoring sight is
considered life saving, this includes cornea organ transplantation.
LUTHERAN: In 1984, the Lutheran Church in America passed
a resolution stating that donation contributes to the well-being of
humanity and can be "an expression of sacrificial love for a
neighbor in need." They call on "members to consider donating
organs and to make any necessary family and legal arrangements,
including the use of a signed donor card."
MENNONITE: Mennonites have no formal position on donation,
but are not opposed to it. They believe the decision to donate is
up to the individual and/or their family.
MORMON (CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-
DAY SAINTS): The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
believes that the decision to donate is an individual one made in
conjunction with farnily, medical personnel, and prayer. They do
not oppose donation.
PENTECOSTAL: Pentecostals believe that the decision to
donate should be left up to the individual.
PRESBYTERIAN: Presbyterians encourage and support
donation. They respect a person's right to make decisions
regarding their own body.
PROTESTANTISM: Encourage and endorse organ donation.
QUAKER: Donation or transplants is an individual decision.
SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST: Donation and transplantation
are strongly encouraged by Seventh-Day Adventists. They have
many transplant hospitals, including Loma Linda in California.
Loma Linda specializes in pediatric heart transplantation.
SHINTO: In Shinto, the dead body is considered to be impure
and dangerous, and thus quite powerful. "In folk belief context,
injuring a dead body is a serious crime. . .", according to
E. Narnihira in his article, "Shinto Concept Concerning the Dead
Human Body. " "To this day it is difficult to obtain consent from
bereaved families for organ donation or dissection for medical
education or pathological anatomy . . . the Japanese regard them
all in the sense of injuring a dead body. " Families are concerned
that they not injure the itai - the relationship between the dead
person and the bereaved people.
SOCIETY OF FRIENDS (QUAKERS): Organ and tissue
donation is believed to be an individual decision. The Society of
Friends does not have an official position on donation.
UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST: Organ and tissue donation is
widely supported by Unitarian Universalists. They view it as an
act of love and selfless giving.
UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST: The United Church of Christ
supports and encourages donation.
UNITED METHODIST: The United Methodist Church issued
a policy statement in regards to organ and tissue donation. In it,
they state that "The United Methodist Church recognizes the
life-giving benefits of organ and tissue donation, and thereby
encourages all Christians to become organ and tissue donors by
signing and carrying cards or driver's licenses, attesting to their
commitment of such organs upon their death, to those in need, as
a part of their ministry to others in the name of Christ, who gave
His life that we might have life in its fullness."
