Religious Views

All major religions support donation of organs and tissues, including corneas. The following represent the positions of various religions on corneal donation and transplantation:

AME (African Methodist Episcopal) and Zion AME: Both of these denominations encourage members to support donation as an act of neighborly love and charity.

Amish: The Amish will consent to donation if they are certain it is in the best interest of the recipient. In his book Amish Society, John Hostetler—an authority on Amish religion—notes that “nothing in the Amish understanding of the Bible forbids them from using modern medical services including surgery, anesthesia, hospitalization, dental work, blood transfusions, and immunization.”

Assembly of God: Although the church lacks an official policy regarding donation and leaves the decision up to the individual, organ and tissue donation is highly supported by the denomination.

Baptist: Donation is supported as an act of charity, but the Church leaves the decision up to the individual.

Buddhism: Acts of compassion are paramount to Buddhists, but they believe that organ and tissue donation is a matter of individual conscience. The importance of letting loved ones know your wishes is stressed.

Catholicism: Catholics view organ and tissue donation as an act of charity, love, and self-sacrifice. Former Pope John Paul II has stated that 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.”

Christian Science: Christian Scientists normally rely on spiritual means of healing, but members are free to choose whatever form of medical treatment they see fit, including transplants.

Episcopal: In 1982, the Episcopal Church passed a resolution that recognizes the live-giving benefits of organ, blood, and tissue donation. The Church encourages all Christians to become donors “as part of their ministry to others in the name of Christ, who gave His life in its fullness.”

Greek Orthodox: The Church supports donation as a way to better human life in the form of transplantations that lead to improvements in the treatment and prevention of disease.

Hinduism: Hindus are not prohibited by religious law from donating their organs or tissues—the act is considered an individual’s decision. According to H.L. Trivedi in Transplanting Proceedings, “There is nothing in the Hindu religion indicating that parts of humans could not be used to alleviate the sufferings of other humans.”

Independent Conservative Evangelical: In general, Evangelicals are not opposed to organ and tissue donation. Each church is autonomous and leaves the decision up to individuals.

Islam: The principle of saving human lives wherever possible is paramount in the religion of Islam. According to A. Sachedina in Transplanting Proceedings, “the majority of the Muslim scholars belonging to various schools of Islamic law have involved the principal priority of saving human lives and have permitted the organ transplant as a necessity to procure the noble end.”

Jehovah’s Witness: According to the Watch Tower Society, Jehovah’s Witnesses believe donation is a matter of individual decision. Because of their opposition to blood transfusions, Jehovah’s Witnesses are often assumed to be against donation. But transplantation is allowed if all blood is removed from organs and tissues before surgery.

Judaism: All four branches of Judaism support and encourage donation. According to Orthodox Rabbi Moses Tendler, “If one is in a position to donate an organ to save another’s life, it is 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 human beings,’ also includes donation of corneas, since eyesight restoration is considered a lifesaving operation.”

Lutheran: Lutherans passed a resolution in 1984 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…and to make any necessary family and legal arrangements, including the use of a signed donor card.”

Mennonite: There is no prohibition against corneal donation and transplantation in the Mennonite faith. Church officials state that such decisions are individual ones.

Mormon (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints): Mormons believe the decision to donate is an individual one made in conjunction with family, medical personnel, and prayer. They do not oppose cornea donation.

Presbyterian: Presbyterians support and encourage donation, but they respect a person’s right to make decisions regarding his or her own body.

Quaker: Officials of the Quaker faith do not oppose organ donation and transplantation. The decision, they say, is an individual one.

Seventh-Day Adventist: Donation and transplantation are strongly encouraged.

Unitarian Universalist: Organ and tissue donation is widely supported by Unitarian Universalists. They view it as an act of love and selfless giving.

United Methodist: The church issued a policy statement saying 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…as part of their ministry to others in the name of Christ, who gave His life in its fullness.”

For more information on becoming a cornea donor, Contact the Eye Bank today or call 1-800-NE-PA-EYE (637-2393).