Panelists

From right to left:
(Rev. John A. Mills, moderator)
Rabbi Richard Hemmerman; Congregation B'nai Israel; Toms River, NJ 08753-2799
Mohamed Nabeel Elmasry; Bilal Mosque; Toms River, NJ 08755-1207.
Dr. Stanley Weinstein; Temple Beth Shalom; Toms River, NJ 08753-2712
Dr. Ziaulhaq Zia; Islamic Center of Ocean County; Whiting, NJ 08759
Rev. LL DuBreuil; First Congregational Church; Woodbridge, NJ 07095

Summary

Five panelists from all three Judeo-Christo-Islamic faiths gather at Toms River United Church of Christ in New Jersey in February to illustrate how local clergy and other professionals are interpreting the stem cell controversy.

Rabbi Hemmerman of Congregation B'nai Israel spoke that from a Conservative Judaism view a fetus is potential life with status, but not the same as born human life. An already born person takes precedence over unborn life. Thus, it is a mitsbah, a divine command, for us to continue to do God's work of co-creation by using science faithfully and righteously.

Mr. Mohamed Elmasry of the Bilal Mosque, continued that among the majority of Islamic scholars tend to consider stem cell research as illicit. But it is new and still being studied. So no fatwah, a considered, generally accepted command, has not been issued. For now, stem cell research is advised against until the jurists have a chance to further study it.

Dr. Stanley Weinstein, a physician from Temple Beth Shalom, speaking from the Reformed Judaism perspective expressed the concern that we would interfere with basic research. New research can be terrifying, yet can yield wonderful results that would relief the conditions of many. We need to be faithful and careful as we pursue research, but not be frightened of it.

Dr. Ziaulhaq Zia, a physician from the Islamic Center of Ocean County in NJ further elaborated the Islamic perspective that the fetus in the first trimester is a not a moral person. Hence research on stem cells in the early stages of an embryo can be regarded as an act of faith if done for human good. Thus, since an embryo is not yet a human being, destroying excess fertilized eggs from an IVR procedure is permissible with appropriate safeguards against profiteering.

Rev. LL DuBreuil of the First Congregational Church of Woodbridge, NJ spoke from a liberal Christian point of view that scripture is a guide, not a mandate. We must seek God's will from such research in the voices of the various contending views and in the voices of those most directly impacted by it, the women, children and men that would benefit.

Though all three faiths had differing traditions and differing view points of God's will, they all agree that we must weight the benefits against the costs in light of God's gift of science and God's call for us to care for humanity.