Medical science is advancing with great speed, particularly in the field of genetics, bringing with it new ethical questions for those of us at ProLife Doc and across the world who believe that life begins at conception. One of the most powerful technologies to emerge in recent years is CRISPR (“Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats”), a gene-editing tool that can alter the DNA of living cells, including human embryos. While it holds great promise for curing some genetic diseases, it also raises serious moral concerns that we, as a pro-life community, cannot afford to ignore.
What Gene Editing Promises—and What It Risks
CRISPR has been hailed as revolutionary. In theory, it could allow us to correct deadly mutations that lead to conditions like cystic fibrosis, sickle cell disease, Tay-Sachs, or Huntington’s disease before a baby is even born. From a pro-life standpoint, the potential to heal, rather than discard, preborn children with medical conditions is a powerful argument in favor of very limited, regulated, therapeutic uses of this technology.
For decades we were told that 98% of our DNA was ‘junk DNA’ because it consisted of “non-coding DNA.” However, it would be wildly misguided to assume that 98% of our DNA has no purpose just because we have not yet identified what it does. We are now discovering that areas of this “non-coding DNA” play a vital role in health and disease. Whether you believe creation was enacted by God or the forces of evolution, the arrogance to declare 98% of our DNA to be ‘junk’ is analogous to saying that 98% of the parts in your computer are ‘junk”. Try removing 98% of the parts of your computer and see how well it functions. The gaps in our understanding do not give us the right to discard what we don’t yet understand as “useless” or “junk,” and we should approach any changes to our genetic makeup with extreme caution.
We must draw a line. Once the science of limited, gene-specific DNA editing moves from healing to enhancement—from curing disease to crafting “designer babies”—we step into dangerous territory. When we alter embryos for preferred traits like intelligence, height, or eye color, we turn children into products. Human dignity becomes secondary to personal preference. That’s not medicine. That’s manufacturing. It is anathema to those who cherish human life at all its stages and in all its variety.
CRISPR also comes with unknown risks. Editing genes in an embryo doesn’t just affect one individual or specific gene. It can alter the germline, which means those changes are passed on to future generations. If we don’t fully understand the long-term consequences of these edits, we may cause more harm than we can ever foresee. The pro-life ethic calls us to protect life, not to gamble with it in an effort to shape human beings to our liking.
Human Dignity Begins at Conception
From the moment of conception, a new human being exists, complete with a unique genetic code and an eternal soul. This is a foundational truth not just for Christians, but for the entire pro-life movement. Gene editing that destroys or manipulates embryos as though they were mere Lego creations undermines that belief.
Many gene editing procedures involve the destruction of “surplus” embryos or the creation of embryos solely for research purposes. That is entirely incompatible with a pro-life worldview. Each embryo is a person, not a project. If “a patient is a person, no matter how small,” then that patient deserves to be treated with dignity, not used for experimentation or discarded because their genes don’t meet someone’s expectations or desires.
Faith, Science, and Moral Responsibility
People of faith should be especially cautious about how we approach this issue. Psalm 139:13 says, “For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb.” This verse isn’t poetic fluff; it’s a divine declaration of God’s intimate involvement in every human life. When we take it upon ourselves to redesign what God has created, we risk stepping into a role that is not ours to claim.
We must also remember that human suffering is not meaningless. While it’s natural to want to prevent pain or illness in our children, God can use even our weaknesses for His glory. Romans 5:3-4 reminds us that “suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” Healing when possible is a blessing, but the Creator can redeem even our most difficult struggles, using them to encourage others and draw His people closer to Himself.
A Call to Protect Life in All Its Stages
CRISPR technology, like many scientific advancements, sits at a moral crossroads. Used responsibly, it could one day help treat illness in the womb. But it must never be used to determine which lives are worth living or to manipulate human beings into made-to-order creations.
We must stay informed and involved as these ethical debates unfold. The pro-life movement cannot afford to remain silent. Let’s be advocates not only for the preborn but for a future where science respects the sanctity of every human life.
If you want to equip yourself or your community to better defend life from the moment of conception, I encourage you to explore the resources and curriculum available at the ProLife Doc website. Together, we can champion life with both compassion and conviction.
