A letter . . .

. . . published in Christian Renewal magazine, 24 October, 2007, responding to my article, Embryo Adoption: Questions Answered.

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Re: Ethics, embryo adoption: Questions answered (CR, Sept. 12, 07, Vol. 26, #1).

It was with great interest that I read the above mentioned article. It is good that someone opens this matter for a discussion. There are a number of points that could be addressed. However, I will just address one issue in that article.

Mr. Brian Douglas states repeatedly, that the embryos are human beings. I would rather say that they embryo here, has the physical potential to become a human being. The 400,000 frozen embryos he mentioned have no souls. A human being does not become a living human being until God gives it a soul at the time when the woman conceives. Only God can give us a soul. Read Ezekiel 18:4 - "Behold, all souls are Mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is mine." Doctors cannot produce a soul in a dish.

The article ends by saying that there is no difference between adopting an embryo and adopting a child. There is no comparison between adopting a child that already lives and has a soul, and an embryo that has no soul. For this readon, in my understanding, no one is under any obligation to adopt an embryo, while adopting a child is commendable.

(signed)
Dundas, Ontario