Cloned babies and Baptism

[Orthodoc]

There was an interesting question asked the priest on the Orthodox-convert list.

Question:  If you knew a baby was cloned would you Baptise it?

Interesting question since one would have to determine if a cloned baby has a soul or does it share the soul of the person it was cloned from.

I think this is a question that should be discussed since its only a matter of time before theis happens (if it already hasn't).  What are your opinions?

Orthodoc

[Mor Ephrem]

I am of the opinion that, while biologically a clone is the same as its "parent", the soul would be different, and so one could and should baptise a clone, if it ever came to that.

[sinjinsmythe]

I am of the opinion that, while biologically a clone is the same as its "parent", the soul would be different, and so one could and should baptise a clone, if it ever came to that.  

I agree totally Mor.  Not only that, I think many people understand cloning.  People are the sum of their genetics and life experiences, so even if you clone yourself your clone will have a different set of experiences than you which will shape the personality of the clone.  I think people forget the nature-nurture interaction when we discuss cloning.

[The young fogey]

I agree with Mor and sinjinsmythe here. IMO clones, even if the means of procreating them is immoral, spiritually would be like identical twins — genetically identical but different people with different souls.

[Orthodoc]

[I agree with Mor and sinjinsmythe here.]

So do I.  I particularly like and agree with ths response from an Orthodox Catholic priest -

> I believe that the Orthodox response will be just the opposite.  If
> humans are cloned, they will be recognized as different persons and
> they will be baptized.  Cloning may create the same body, but it
> will create a different person.

This is also my own understanding.  Cloning is simply the artificially
facilitated creation of an identical twin - not essentially different from that
which happens in the womb by a natural process.  If a clone doesn't have a
soul - or if a clone shares the soul of its "donor" then identical twins share
the same soul and the baptism of one would be effective for the other.
Obviously this doesn't happen so I think that a clone would be treated no
differently.

Cloning is not condoned (afaik) as a method of reproduction by the Orthodox
Church - but then neither is adultery and fornication.  However the children
produced from an adultrous or promiscuous relationship are considered persons
and are baptized - the children produced through cloning would be treated no
differently.

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Orthodoc

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