Religion & Donation

What Does My Religion Believe About Organ, Eye and Tissue Donation?

African Methodist Episcopal (AME) & AME Zion

Organ, eye and tissue donation is viewed as an act of neighborly love and charity in the African Methodist Episcopal and African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church. The Church encourages all members to support organ donation and transplantation as a way of helping others.

The Amish will consent to organ donation and transplantation if they believe it is for the well-being of the transplant recipient.

According to John Hostetler, an educator, author and prominent figure in the Amish community, states in his book “Amish Society” that “The Amish believe that since God created the human body, it is God who heals.”

The Amish’s interpretation of the Bible does not mention refusing modern medical services like surgery, hospitalization, blood transfusions, immunizations and more.

While the church has no official policy on donation, it has highly supported organ, eye and tissue donation in the past. The Assembly of God church acknowledges that organ donation is lifesaving and that the individual’s decision to donate will not affect one’s resurrection or spirit after death. They encourage church members to always seek Christian service and God’s love and grace. Therefore, organ donation is a personal decision, and the church leaves it up to the individual.

Baháʼí supports organ donation and donating bodies for science or research. Baháʼí encourages individuals to communicate and specify what their end-of-life decisions are in their will, leaving the decision to each individual. However, Baháʼí members must receive a proper burial as the cremation of bodies is prohibited.

In 1988, the Southern Baptist Convention passed a resolution supporting organ donation to alleviate suffering and demonstrate compassion for the needs of others. It is supported as an act of charity and Christian love. Other Baptist denominations think similarly and leave the decision to register as an organ donor to the individual.

The Church of the Brethren’s Annual Conference in 1993 developed a resolution on organ and tissue donation supporting and encouraging donation. They wrote: “We have the opportunity to help others out of love for Christ, through the donation of organs and tissues.”

The Church of Brethren also encourages individuals to have discussions with family members, their clergy and other loved ones about their end-of-life decisions to specify if they wish to pursue organ, eye or tissue donation at the time of their death. They also encourage members to learn more and educate themselves on the resources available to them in their region about organ donation. Each region’s organ procurement organization (OPO) offers additional resources and education on organ donation and transplantation.

Buddhists believe donation is a matter of individual conscience, and highly respect acts of compassion. Reverend Gyomay Kobose, founder of the Buddhist Temple of Chicago, stated, “We honor those people who donate their bodies and organs to the advancement of medical science and to saving lives.”

Buddhism also encourages church members to discuss end-of-life decisions with family members to ensure the individual’s respected wishes are made at the time of death. If any Buddhist is unsure whether to register as an organ donor, they are encouraged to seek understanding and help from a senior leader in their temple.

Catholics view organ, eye and tissue donation as an act of charity and love. The Vatican sees organ transplantation as morally and ethically acceptable. In 1956, Pope Pius XII stated that: “A person may will to dispose of his body and to destine it to ends that are useful, morally irreproachable and even noble, among them the desire to aid the sick and suffering…This decision should not be condemned but positively justified.”

In August 2000, Pope John Paul II told attendees at the International Congress on Transplants in Rome that, “Transplants are a great step forward in science’s service of man, and not a few people today owe their lives to an organ transplant. Increasingly, the technique of transplants has proven to be a valid means of attaining the primary goal of all medicine—the service of human life…there is a need to instill in people’s hearts, especially in the hearts of the young, a genuine and deep appreciation of the need for brotherly love, a love that can find expression in the decision to become an organ donor.”

In His Encyclical letter, Evangelium Vitae (On the Value and Inviolability of Human Life), Pope John Paul II observed, “There is an everyday heroism, made up of gestures and sharing, big or small, which build up an authentic culture of life. A particularly praiseworthy example of such gestures is the donation of organs in a morally acceptable manner.”

Catholicism encourages organ donation because of its impact on the greater good of humanity. It is seen as an act of neighborly love.

The Church supports organ, eye and tissue donation. The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) states that individuals were created for God’s glory and for sharing God’s love. In 1985, Resolution #8548 adopted by the general assembly encouraged, “members of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) to [register] as organ donors and prayerfully support those who have received an organ transplant.” This denomination encourages and supports prayers for organ donors, organ donor families and transplant recipients.

Christian Scientists normally rely on spiritual means of healing. They are free to choose any form of medical treatment they desire, including a transplant. The question of donation is an individual decision.

Christian Scientists are free to make their own decisions regarding organ, eye and tissue donation. While the Church of Christ, Scientist does not currently have a formal position on organ donation, they prefer to rely on spiritual healing. However, individuals may still seek medical care and benefit from modern medical practices.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believes the decision to donate is an individual one made in conjunction with family, medical personnel and prayer. The Church issued this policy statement on June 3, 1974: “The question of whether one should will bodily organs to be used as transplants or for research after death must be answered from deep within the conscience of the individual involved. Those who seek counsel from the church on this subject are encouraged to review the advantages and disadvantages of doing so, to implore the Lord for inspiration and guidance, and then to take the course of action which would give them a feeling of peace and comfort.”

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints views organ, eye and tissue donation as a selfless act that can greatly help those in need of a lifesaving transplant. They understand transplant candidates have medical conditions that leave them needing a second chance at life. They encourage anyone in need of a new organ to seek medical counsel and prayer to determine if organ donation is the best solution for them.

In addition, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints issued a policy statement in 1974 stating, “the question of whether one should will bodily organs to be used as transplants or for research after death must be answered from deep within the conscience of the individual involved. Those who seek counsel from the church on this subject are encouraged to review the advantages and disadvantages of doing so, to implore the Lord for inspiration and guidance, and then to take the course of action which would give them a feeling of peace and comfort.”

The Church of the Nazarene believes in leaving the choice of organ donation to the individual. They encourage members to specify end-of-life decisions in their wills or trusts.

The Episcopal Church encourages and supports organ, blood and tissue donation. In 1982, the Episcopal Church passed a resolution that encouraged church members to consider giving the gift of life through organ donation to those in need of a lifesaving transplant.

The 70th General Convention of the Episcopal Church in 1991 encouraged, “all members of this Church to consider seriously the opportunity to donate organs after death that others may live, and that such decision by clearly stated to family, friends, church and attorney.”

The Evangelical Covenant Church passed a resolution at the Annual Meeting in 1982, encouraging members to sign and carry organ donor cards. These cards allow the individual to specify their end-of-life decisions. The resolution also recommended, “that it becomes a policy with our pastors, teachers and counselors to encourage awareness of organ donation in all our congregations.”

The Greek Orthodox Church views organ donation as an act of love and is therefore encouraged but not required. The church has previously accepted other medical procedures like blood transfusions and skin grafts. If a church member is considering being a living donor, they are encouraged to seek medical advice and consult with a spiritual father.

Reverend Stanley S. Harakas wrote, “In the case of organ transplants, the crucial ethical considerations are two-fold: the potential harm inflicted upon the donor and the need of the recipient. Historically, the Orthodox Church has not objected to similar, though not identical, procedures, such as blood transfusions and skin grafts. In both cases, no radical threat to the life of the donor is perceived, and the lifesaving consequences of the recipient are substantial. Similar considerations affect the Orthodox Christian judgment of organ transplants. In no case should a person ignore or make light of the ethical implications of organ donation. Donating an organ whose loss will impair or threaten the life of the potential donor is never required and is never a moral obligation of any person. If the condition of health and the physical well-being of the donor permits, some transplants are not objectionable. Kidney transplants are a case in point. A healthy person may consent to donate a kidney knowing that his or her health is not thereby impaired. The recipient of the organ transplant should be in otherwise good health, with the expectation of restoring to normal living in order to warrant the risk to the donor.”

According to the Hindu Temple Society of North and South America, Hindus are allowed to make their own decisions regarding organ, eye and tissue donation. H. L. Trivedi, in Transplant Proceedings, states: “Hindu mythology has stories in which the parts of the human body are used for the benefit of other humans and society. There is nothing in the Hindu religion indicating that parts of humans, dead or alive, cannot be used to alleviate the suffering of other humans.” Hindu scripture positively references the concept of organ donation.

The Independent Conservative Evangelical Churches have no opposition to organ, eye or tissue donation and leave the decision up to the individual, viewing it as an act of love and compassion.

Islamic faith strongly believes in saving lives. Those who help save lives from death are said to be rewarded by Allah. Organ, eye and tissue donation is supported for its lifesaving efforts to give others a second chance at life.

According to A. Sachedina in Transplantation Proceedings, “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 believe organ, eye and tissue donation decisions should be left to the individual because the Bible does not directly mention organ donation. While Jehovah’s Witnesses do not support blood transfusions, organ and tissue donation is justifiable if there is no blood transferred during the process.

All four branches of Judaism—Orthodox, Conservative, Reform and Reconstructionist—support and encourage organ, eye and tissue donation. Numerous resolutions have been passed encouraging donation. According to Orthodox Rabbi Moses Tendler, Chairman of the Bioethics Commission of the Rabbinical Council of America: “If one is in the position to donate an organ to save another’s life, it’s obligatory to do so, even if the donor never knows who the beneficiary will be. The basic principle of Jewish ethics, ‘the infinite worth of the human being,’ also includes donation of corneas, since eyesight restoration is considered a lifesaving operation.” For information on Orthodox Judaism and organ donation, visit the Halachic Organ Donor Society at www.hods.org.

The Lutheran Church of America passed a resolution in 1984 stating that organ, eye and tissue donation contributes to the well-being of humanity and can be “an expression of love for a neighbor in need.” The Church calls on its members to consider organ donation and to make any necessary family and legal arrangements to do so.

Mennonites leave the decision of organ donation up to the individual and their family members. Currently, Mennonites have no formal position on organ donation.

The Moravian Church does not have an official policy addressing organ, eye and tissue donation or transplantation. The choice to donate is left to individual church members or their families.

Pentecostals believe organ, eye and tissue donation is a generous way to show love for one’s neighbor and ultimately leave the decision up to the individual.

Presbyterians encourage all church members to register as organ, eye and tissue donors in the name of Christ. Donation is seen as a selfless act that can be lifesaving and improve the quality of life for others. However, Presbyterians respect a person’s right to make decisions regarding their own body and ultimately leave the decision up to the individual.

Organ, eye and tissue donation is considered a matter of individual decision. The Society of Friends does not have an official position on donation or transplantation, but it does align with the Quaker values of love, selflessness, compassion and more.

The Salvation Army accepts that organ, eye and tissue donation is a voluntary act and leaves it to the individual. The church views organ donation as a gift of love and compassion. End-of-life wishes should be discussed with family members prior to any death occurring.

Organ, eye and tissue donation and transplantation is strongly encouraged in the Seventh-Day Adventist Church because it saves lives. Many transplant hospitals, including Loma Linda in California, are Seventh-day Adventist and have the religious teachings at the root of their mission.

Spiritual Ministers are highly supportive of organ, eye and tissue donation. Spiritualism believes the spirit and is separate from the body; therefore, donation and transplantation will not affect one’s spiritual journey after they pass. They also recognize that this decision should be left to the individual.

Unitarian Universalists affirm the inherent worth and dignity of every person and respect the interdependent web of all existence. This principle encourages donation and transplantation to help and save others. Unitarian Universalists affirm the value of organ, eye and tissue donation but leaves the decision to each individual.

Reverend Jay Litner, Director for the Washington Office of the United Church of Christ Office for Church in Society, states that: “United Church of Christ people, churches and agencies are extremely and overwhelmingly supportive of organ sharing. The General Synod has never spoken about this issue because, in general, the Synod speaks on more controversial issues, and there is no controversy about organ sharing, just as there is no controversy about blood donation. Blood donation rooms have been set up at several General Synods. Similarly, any organized effort to get the General Synod delegates or individual churches to sign organ [donor] cards would meet with generally positive responses.”

The United Methodist Church issued a policy statement in 1984 regarding organ and tissue donation that reads: “The United Methodist Church recognizes the life-giving benefits of 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 part of their ministry to others in the name of Christ, who gave his life that we might have life in its fullness.”

A resolution from 1992 states, “Donation is to be encouraged, assuming appropriate safeguards against hastening death and determination of death by reliable criteria.” The resolution continues to state that, “Pastoral-Care persons should be willing to explore these options as a normal part of conversation with patients and their families.” The United Methodist Church strongly supports organ, eye and tissue donation.

The Wesleyan Church supports donation as a way of helping others. It believes that God’s, “ability to resurrect us is not dependent on whether or not all our parts were connected at death.” It also supports research and, in 1989, noted in a task force report on public morals and social concerns that, “one of the ways that a Christian can do good is to request that their body be donated to a medical school for use in teaching.”

Like other Protestant Christian denominations, the Wesleyan Church views organ, eye and tissue donation as an act of love and compassion. They also view the physical body as separate from the spiritual body, believing that once a person passes, what’s left of the physical body will not affect resurrection. Only spiritual bodies will be resurrected. The Wesleyan Church supports organ donation and transplantation as an act of service to others in support of Christ.

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