Religious Viewpoints
Most major religions support donation, and it is generally held that donation for the benefit of others is a demonstration of faith and love for one’s fellow man. Any one with questions about their faith’s position on donation should consult with their clergy or spiritual adviser.
Amish – The Amish consent to donation if they know it is for the health and welfare of the transplant recipient.
Buddhism – Buddhists believe that organ donation is a matter that should be left to an individual’s conscience and place high value on acts of compassion. The importance of letting loved ones know your wishes is stressed.
Catholicism – Roman Catholics view donation as an act of charity, fraternal love and self sacrifice. Transplants are ethically and morally acceptable to the Vatican.
The Church of Christ Scientist – Christian Scientists do not take a specific position on transplants or donation. Christian Scientists normally rely on spiritual rather than medical means of healing. The question of donation is left to the individual church member.
Greek Orthodox – The Greek Orthodox Church is not opposed to organ and tissue donation as long as the organs and tissues 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 – Gypsies are, on the whole, against donation. Although they have no formal resolution, their opposition is associated with their belief in the after-life.
Hinduism – Hindus are not prohibited by religious law from donating, according to the Hindu Temple Society of North America. The act is an individual decision.
Islam – The religion of Islam strongly believes in the principle of saving lives. The majority of the Muslim scholars have invoked the principle of priority of saving human life and have permitted organ transplants as a necessity to procure that noble end.
Jehovah’s Witness – Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that donation is a matter of individual decision. As they have a belief against blood transfusion, they believe it would not be acceptable for an organ donor to receive blood as part of the organ recovery process.
Judaism – All four branches of Judaism (Orthodox, Conservative, Reform and Reconstructionist) support and encourage donation. 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.
Mormon – 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.
Pentecostal – Pentecostals believe that the decision to donate should be left up to the individual.
Presbyterian – Presbyterians encourage and support donation. They respect a person’s right to make decisions regarding their own body.
Protestantism – Protestants generally encourage and endorse organ donation. The Protestant faith respects an individual’s conscience and a person’s right to make decisions regarding his or her own body.
Seventh-Day Adventist – Donation and transplantation are strongly encouraged by Seventh-Day Adventists.
United Methodist – The United Methodist Church recognizes the life-giving benefits of organ and tissue donation. They encourage all members to become organ and tissue donors by registering on-line or at your local DMV.
