Comments on: Genetics Interview #20: Rebecca Taylor of Mary Meets Dolly

By: Hsien Hsien Lei, PhD

Hsien Hsien Lei, PhD — Sat, 28 Oct 2006 18:01:16 +0000

Ric: I’m glad you enjoyed the interview? I’m glad Rebecca agreed to participate and share her unique perspective.

Julie: As a society, we need to define together that point beyond which we will not go. Unfortunately, I think it’s getting more and more difficult to reach a consensus.

Dr. Nuckols: Thanks for leaving a comment and letting me learn of your blog as well. Religion is such an important part of so many people’s lives that I hope we won’t discount those who are strong believers.

By: Beverly Nuckols, MD

Beverly Nuckols, MD — Sat, 28 Oct 2006 06:02:07 +0000

Just found this site and, especially, this interview. Far too often, it seems as though the pro-life and religious scientist and bioethicist are not heard. Part of it is our fault – we just don’t want to make waves. (Or we’ve made waves in the past and didn’t like the tsunami that came after.)

However, we have common ground: our appreciation for logic and exploring the natural world – and telling everyone else what we discovered.

Thank you for making room for all of us on your blog.

By: Julie Grimstad

Julie Grimstad — Fri, 27 Oct 2006 14:14:44 +0000

Thank you for interviewing Rebecca Taylor. It is refreshing to find a scientist who takes her faith and conscience into the lab. Science sometimes runs amock due to a lack of the guiding principle “beyond this point you shall not go”.

By: Ric Wesselman

Ric Wesselman — Wed, 25 Oct 2006 04:37:02 +0000

Insightful interview with an fresh approach to topics not easily covered. Congrats Dr Lei! Biotech approaches to plants and people are often painted with the same brush stroke. I enjoyed Rebecca Taylor’s discussion of how this science is view by Catholics.

By: Hsien Hsien Lei, PhD

Hsien Hsien Lei, PhD — Fri, 13 Oct 2006 16:06:42 +0000

Thanks for your comments, everyone. I’ve learned a lot from your responses.

By: Emily DeVoto

Emily DeVoto — Thu, 12 Oct 2006 19:40:50 +0000

Very interesting interview. For the evangelical Protestant view, you may want to consider interviewing Dr. Francis Collins, Director of the National Human Genome Research Institute.

By: Krista Pecha

Krista Pecha — Thu, 12 Oct 2006 17:16:09 +0000

Rebecca Taylor never ceases to amaze me. She has such a grasp on the truth especially when it deals with the dignity of the human person; made in the image and likeness of God. It is the courage of Rebecca that shines. Thanks for your time Dr.Lei.

By: MaryLou Molitor

MaryLou Molitor — Thu, 12 Oct 2006 17:03:29 +0000

Thank you, Dr. Lei, for publishing this interview. It’s about time we heard from someone in the scientific community who is grounded in the faith — Would that more scientists and researchers were so grounded. I’m reminded of an old, but still valid, maxim: Good morals make good medicine.

By: Kathi Hamlon

Kathi Hamlon — Thu, 12 Oct 2006 16:33:43 +0000

Congratulations on your interview with Rebecca Taylor. It was refreshing to read her take on science in general and on genetic testing in particular. Quite frankly, she makes a good deal of sense. Thanks for having the courage to post her responses.

By: Dan Lacey

Dan Lacey — Thu, 12 Oct 2006 15:47:38 +0000

Thanks Dr. Lei for the excellent interview.
Professing a ‘neutral’ or ‘ethics free’ posture on the destruction of human life is an ethical decision in itself. Secularists would like to think that their decisions are ‘above’ morality, but such a posture is impossible to defend. Dr. Lei asks whether preimplantation genetic diagnosis would be out of bounds at a Catholic hospital, but to argue the opposite would also profess a moral opinion.
Rebecca Taylor’s standards are sane and reasonable, a reflection of both her Catholic faith and that of the original Hippocratic Oath, which include these precepts-

‘I will prescribe regimens for the good of my patients according to my ability and my judgment and never do harm to anyone. To please no one will I prescribe a deadly drug nor give advice which may cause his death. Nor will I give a woman a pessary to procure abortion. But I will preserve the purity of my life and my art.’