Subscribe Feed (RSS)Embryonic Human vs Embryonic Bald Eagle
December 31st, 2007 by Vlad | Filed under Embryonic Research, Pro Life.From “Imposing Our Beliefs on Others” by Fr. Tad Pacholczyk, Ph.D.:
…in the United States we have stringent federal laws that protect not only the national bird, the bald eagle, but also that eagle’s eggs. If you were to chance upon some of them in a nest out in the wilderness, it would be illegal for you to destroy those eggs. By the force of law, we recognize how the egg of the bald eagle, that is to say, the embryonic eagle inside that egg, is the same creature as the glorious bird that we witness flying high overhead. Therefore we pass laws to safeguard not only the adult but also the very youngest member of that species. Even atheists can see how a bald eagle’s eggs should be protected; it’s really not a religious question at all. What’s so troublesome is how we are able to understand the importance of protecting the earliest stages of animal life but when it comes to our own human life, a kind of mental disconnect takes place. Our moral judgement quickly becomes murky and obtuse when we desire to do certain things that are not good, like having abortions, or destroying embryonic humans for their stem cells.
humans aren’t endangered
Therefore we can kill them???
Hmm, well yes, but eagles are endangered, humans aren’t endangered. I don’t think that the eagle in the egg is alive, but is is a future member of an endangered species.
humans aren’t endangered
Therefore we can kill them???
Schemilix,This is the real point of this article we take the plight of the Bald Eagle more seriously then Human life,such as an unborn child.The egg is the first step if you destroy it we die.
Schemilix,This is the real point of this article we take the plight of the Bald Eagle more seriously then Human life,such as an unborn child.The egg is the first step if you destroy it we die.
Lousy logic here. The reason the eggs are protected is that the species is so fragile and every egg is a means to help the species recover. This is not the same thing as saying that the egg is itself a valuable being with rights. The only mental disconnect here is Pacholczyk completely missing the point and purpose of protecting the eggs and misrepresenting it as something its not. It has nothing to do with valuing babies for their moral rights, but in preserving the rare reproduction of an endangered species. Protecting the eggs is no different, in this sense, then finding means to make more eagles have sex. But Pacholczyk probably wouldn’t argue that this means that we should force more humans to have sex, or that it is immoral if we don’t.
Bad,
I would suggest you to read the entire article by Fr. Pacholczyk before arguing your point.
Your comment is a vivid example of the “disconnect” Fr. Pacholczyk writes about. Religion aside, would you agree that destroying Bald Eagle’s egg would be wrong thing to do? And that he precisely his point. We value animals more than we value human beings.
I will remember this when I enter into this conversation with others in the future – very good.
I will remember this when I enter into this conversation with others in the future – very good.
Lynn,
Thanks for stopping by. Father Pacholczyk has testified before the legislatures of several state on embryonic research. He has some very outstanding articles on the subject.
Lynn,
Thanks for stopping by. Father Pacholczyk has testified before the legislatures of several state on embryonic research. He has some very outstanding articles on the subject.
Thanks for this great statement about life! Please keep fighting to change hearts and minds!
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hi
super hippy shit
Viability is the issue; the argument is that the embryo of a human is not viable so it is ok to kill “it” (or should that be him or her). But to pass a law to protect an eagle’s egg implies it is viable. They are both viable if left alone. They both will become living members of their species. Again, how can you place value above a human. Humans have the chance to become President of the United States; or better yet,brilliant minds who come up with the ideas to save our world, eagles do not. I would go with potential value everytime; not denial of this fact.