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Locate the religious affiliation of your interest from the list provided below. If the group for which you are seeking information is not listed, contact a local representative of that religious group for information on the official position that it takes on organ and tissue donation, if any.
Organ and tissue donation is viewed as an act of neighborly love and charity by these denominations. They encourage all members to support donation as a way of helping others. Return to Religion Index
The Amish will consent to transplantation if they believe it is for the well-being of the transplant
recipient. John Hostetler, world renowned authority on Amish religion and professor of
anthropology at Temple University in Philadelphia, says in his book, Amish Society, "The Amish
believe that since God created the human body, it is God who heals." However, nothing in the
Amish understanding of the Bible forbids them from using modern medical services, including
surgery, hospitalization, dental work, anesthesia, blood transfusions or immunization.
The Church has no official policy regarding organ and tissue donation. The decision to donate
is left up to the individual. Donation is highly supported by the denomination.
Though Baptists generally believe that organ and tissue donation and transplantation are
ultimately matters of personal conscience, the nation's largest protestant denomination, the
Southern Baptist Convention, adopted a resolution in 1988 encouraging physicians to request
organ donation in appropriate circumstances and to "...encourage voluntarism regarding organ
donations in the spirit of stewardship, compassion for the needs of others and alleviating
suffering." Other Baptist groups have supported organ and tissue donation as an act of charity
and leave the decision to donate up to the individual.
While no official position has been taken by the Brethren denominations, according to Pastor
Mike Smith, there is a consensus among the National Fellowship of Grace Brethren that organ
and tissue donation is a charitable act so long as it does not impede the life or hasten the death
of the donor or does not come from an unborn child.
Buddhists believe that organ and tissue donation is a matter of individual conscience and place
high value on acts of compassion. Reverend Gyomay Masao, president and founder of the
Buddhist Temple of Chicago says, "We honor those people who donate their bodies and organs
to the advancement of medical science and to saving lives." The importance of letting loved
ones know your wishes is stressed.
Catholics view organ and tissue donation as an act of charity and love. Transplants are morally
and ethically acceptable to the Vatican. According to Father Leroy Wickowski, Director of the
Office of Health Affairs of the Archdiocese of Chicago, "We encourage donation as an act of
charity. It is something good that can result from tragedy and a way for families to find comfort
by helping others." Pope John Paul II has stated, "The Catholic Church would promote the fact
that there is a need for organ donors and that Christians should accept this as a 'challenge to
their generosity and fraternal love' so long as ethical principles are followed."
The Christian Church encourages organ and tissue donation, stating that we were created for
God's glory and for sharing God's love. A 1985 resolution, adopted by the General Assembly,
encourages "...members of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) to enroll as organ donors
and prayerfully support those who have received an organ transplant."
The Church of Christ Scientist does not have a specific position regarding organ donation.
According to the First Church of Christ Scientist in Boston, Christian Scientists normally rely on
spiritual instead of medical means of healing. They are free, however, to choose whatever form
of medical treatment they desire -- including a transplant. The question of organ and tissue
donation is an individual decision.
Generally, they have no opposition to organ and tissue donation. Each church is
autonomous and leaves the decision to donate up to the individual.
The Episcopal Church passed a resolution in 1982 that recognizes the life-giving benefits of
organ, blood and tissue donation. All Christians are encouraged to become organ, blood and
tissue donors "...as part of their ministry to others in the name of Christ, who gave His life that
we may have life in its fullness."
According to Reverend Dr. Milton Efthimiou, Director of the Department of Church and Society
for the Greek Orthodox Church of North and South America, "The Greek Orthodox Church is not opposed to organ donation as long as the organs and tissue in questions are used to better
human life, i.e., for transplantation or for research that will lead to improvements in the treatment
and prevention of disease."
Gypsies are a people of different ethnic groups without a formalized religion. They share
common folk beliefs and tend to be opposed to organ donation. Their opposition is connected
with their beliefs about the afterlife. Traditional belief contends that for one year after death the
soul retraces its steps. Thus, the body must remain intact because the soul maintains its
physical shape.
According to the Hindu Temple Society of North America, Hindus are not prohibited by religious
law from donating their organs. This act is an individual's decision. H. L.
Trivedi, in Transplantation Proceedings, stated that, "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."
Generally, Evangelicals have no opposition to organ and tissue donation. Each church is
autonomous and leaves the decision to donate up to the individual.
The religion of Islam believes in the principle of saving human lives. According to A. Sachedina
in his Transplantation Proceedings (1990) article, Islamic Views on Organ Transplantation, "...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."
According to the Watch Tower Society, Jehovah's Witnesses believe donation is a matter of
individual decision. Jehovah's Witnesses are often assumed to be opposed to donation because
of their belief against blood transfusion. However, this merely means that all blood must be
removed from the organs and tissues before being transplanted.
All four branches of Judaism (Orthodox, Conservative, Reform and
Reconstructionist) support
and encourage donation. According to Orthodox Rabbi Moses Tendler, Chairman of the Biology
Department of Yeshiva University in New York City and 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 life-saving operation." In 1991,
the Rabbinical Council of America (Orthodox) approved organ donations as permissible, and
even required, from brain-dead patients. The Reform movement looks upon the transplant
program favorably and Rabbi Richard Address, Director of the Union of American Hebrew
Congregations Bio-Ethics Committee and Committee on Older Adults, states that "Judaic
Responsa materials provide a positive approach and by and large the North American Reform
Jewish community approves of transplantation."
In 1984, the Lutheran Church in America passed a resolution stating that donation contributes
to the well-being of humanity and can be "...an expression of sacrificial love for a neighbor in
need." They call on members to consider donating organs and to make any necessary family
and legal arrangements, including the use of a signed donor card.
Mennonites have no formal position on donation, but are not opposed to it. They believe the
decision to donate is up to the individual and/or his or her family.
The Moravian Church has made no statement addressing organ and tissue donation or
transplantation. Robert E. Sawyer, President, Provincial Elders Conference, Moravian Church
of America, Southern Province, states, "There is nothing in our doctrine or policy that would
prevent a Moravian pastor from assisting a family in making a decision to donate or not to
donate an organ." It is, therefore, a matter of individual choice.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints believes that the decision to donate is an
individual one made in conjunction with family, medical personnel and prayer. They do not
oppose donation.
Pentecostals believe that the decision to donate should be left up to the individual.
Presbyterians encourage and support donation. They respect a person's right to make decisions
regarding his or her own body.
Donation and transplantation are strongly encouraged by Seventh-Day Adventists. They have
many transplant hospitals, including Loma Linda in California. Loma Linda specializes in
pediatric heart transplantation.
In Shinto, the dead body is considered to be impure and dangerous, and thus quite powerful.
"In folk belief context, injuring a dead body is a serious crime. . .," according to E. Namihira in
his article, Shinto Concept Concerning the Dead Human Body. "To this day it is difficult to
obtain consent from bereaved families for organ donation or dissection for medical education or
pathological anatomy. . . the Japanese regard them all in the sense of injuring a dead body."
Families are often concerned that they not injure the itai, the relationship between the dead
person and the bereaved people.
Organ and tissue donation is believed to be an individual decision. The Society of Friends does
not have an official position on donation.
Organ and tissue donation is widely supported by Unitarian Universalists. They view it as an act
of love and selfless giving.
Reverend Jay Lintner, Director, Washington Office of the United Church of Christ Office for
Church in Society, states, "United Church of Christ people, churches and agencies are extremely
and overwhelmingly supportive of organ sharing. The General Synod has never spoken to 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 in the
denomination. While the General Synod has never spoken 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 donation cards would meet with
generally positive responses."
The United Methodist Church issued a policy statement regarding organ and tissue donation.
In it, they state that, "The United Methodist Church recognizes the life-giving benefits of organ
and tissue donation, and thereby encourages all Christians to become 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 a part of their ministry to others in the name of Christ, who
gave his life that we might have life in its fullness." Book of
Resolutions 2000, page 352. See also ¶ 162U Social Principles:
Organ Transplantation and Donation, Book of Discipline 2000 page
112.
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Regional Offices Golden State Donor Services 1.916.567.1600 Referrals 1.800.762.8819 Fax 1.916.567.8300 Mountain Region Donor Services 1.423.915.0808 Referrals 1.888.562.3774 Fax 1.423.915.1170 New Mexico Donor Services 1.505.843.7672 Referrals 1.800.843.7672 Fax 1.505.343.1828 Sierra Eye and Tissue Donor Services 1.916.569.0200 Referrals 1.800.762.8819 Distribution 1.800.435.5780 Fax 1.916.569.0300 Tennessee Donor Services Nashville 1.615.234.5251 1.888.234.4440 Referrals 1.800.969.4438 Fax 1.615.320.1655 Tennessee Donor Services Chattanooga 1.423.756.5736 Fax 1.423.756.5904 Tennessee Donor Services Knoxville 1.865.588.1031 Fax 1.865.588.5903 Tennessee Donor Services Jackson 1.731.425.6393 Our Corporate Office DCIDS Organ Services 1.888.234.4440 DCIDS Tissue Services 1.888.234.4399 DCIDS Tissue Orders 1.888.216.0319
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