A coalition of every major religious faith, rekindling the debate over the ethics of genetic research, is urging the government to ban the patenting of human genes and genetically engineered animals.
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office rebuffed the call by some 180 religious leaders for a moratorium on gene patents, saying to impose one would discriminate against the biotechnology industry.But the clergy pledged to lobby President Clinton and every member of Congress to force the office to ban such patents.
Gene patenting "represents the usurpation of ownership rights of the sovereign of the universe," said Richard Land of the Southern Baptist Convention. "Designer human beings are just over the horizon."
Their quest promises to touch off a fierce national debate pitting public health against religious mores, bioethicists said.
"It's a classic clash between science and religion, the conflict of the ages," said Lawrence Gostin, professor of law and public health at Georgetown University.
A joint statement signed by 180 Roman Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu and Buddhist leaders calls for Congress to immediately ban patents on any life form.
"This is the beginning of an historic discussion," said Jeremy Rifkin, a Washington lobbyist and biotechnology opponent who formed the coalition. "Is life God's creation or is life a human invention?"