SANCTITY OF LIFE

"For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb.

I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth."

Psalm 139 verses 13 to 15

Particular concerns for Christian investors are:

• Genetic Modification Genetic engineering opens up a whole range of possibilities but they need to be treated with care. At its simplest it is an extension of centuries old techniques such as selective breeding; at the other it involves the transfer of genes from plants to animals and vice versa which is completely different and much more complex. Companies must not compromise safety – in its widest sense including ecological collateral damage – nor undertake radical changes without fully considering the ethical issues. EIAG (Click on Publications and Church of England) publish a helpful report on this subject
  
• Bio-engineering Handling human life – before and after birth, during serious illness and in death – is an enormous responsibility. Companies involved in the use and production of bio-engineering techniques need to place safety and ethical responsibility as their top priorities.
  
• Safety Christians will want to avoid or put pressure on any company who appears to compromise safety – particularly important in the travel industry – but also areas such a children’s toys, food, and household appliances.