by James Benedict

About the author: James Benedict is pastor of Union Bridge Church of the Brethren in Union Bridge, Maryland.

“How dare we kill innocent babies just to make things a little easier for old people"” It was not so much a question as an accusation. Others at the hearing looked expectantly toward me as I stood at the podium. I took a deep breath. Then I tried once again to describe the process by which fetal tissue becomes available for transplantation and its many potential uses for recipients of various ages—including a case in which fetal tissue was transplanted into another fetus in utero.

The asking and answering of that particular question took place four days before delegates to the annual conference of the Church of the Brethren...