Denver Newsroom, May 20, 2020 / 11:10 am (CNA).- A scientist on the front lines of developing a vaccine for COVID-19 today was selected as the recipient of this year’s Templeton Prize, an award recognizing his contributions to insight about religion through his work as a scientist.
Dr. Francis Collins, director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and member of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, told CNA that working to develop the coronavirus vaccine is one of the biggest challenges of his career, and that these days when he is not working, he is finding solace in prayer and reading the psalms.
“Like all crises, like all occasions of suffering, this is an opportunity where we can learn and grow. And I’m glad that I worship a God who knows about suffering,” Collins, an evangelical Christian, told CNA.
The Templeton Prize, established in 1972 by global investor and philanthropist Sir John Templeton, is an annual cash award of £1.1 million ($1.3 million) to a living person who has made “an exceptional contribution to affirming life’s spiritual dimension, whether through insight, discovery or practical works.”
St. Teresa of Calcutta was the inaugural recipient of the award in 1973.
Before joining the NIH in 2009, Dr. Collins had been professor of internal medicine and human genetics at the University of Michigan, leading research that had discovered the genes responsible for diseases such as cystic fibrosis; neurofibromatosis; Huntington’s disease; and Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome, a rare form of premature aging.
In 1993, he was appointed director of the National Center for Human Genome Research, overseeing the Human Genome Project, an international collaboration that in 2003 succeeded in sequencing the three billion DNA “letters” in the human genome.
Now, Collins is overseeing the NIH’s collaboration with several pharmaceutical companies and government agencies to develop a vaccine for COVID-19. At least one potential vaccine will be ready to begin large-scale testing by July with others to follow soon, Collins told The Associated Press last week.
“I pray for wisdom, for guidance, I pray for forgiveness for making mistakes along the way,” Collins told CNA.
“I’ve been involved in so many large-scale science projects over the last 30 years, from finding the gene for cystic fibrosis, to the genome project, to cancer immunotherapy; and somehow the burden of responsibility here— we can’t afford to lose a day of progress in finding treatments and a vaccine and better tests— is just there every minute.”
“And here I am in my home office, but barely ever going outside, and probably working 110 hours a week just trying to do everything I can to marshal all of those resources and praying to God that they are used wisely to bring hope and healing,” he said.
A rational case for God’s existence
A Virginia native, Collins was homeschooled until age 10 and studied chemistry at the college and graduate level, earning a bachelor’s, Ph.D., and later his M.D., after which he was named a Fellow in Human Genetics at Yale Medical School.
Veering between agnositcism to atheism until age 27, Collins has said that he was “very happy with the idea that God did not exist and that he had no interest in me.”
“That was where I was— if somebody tried to raise that topic [of religion], I would be quick to dismiss it and want to move on to something else, having perhaps had too many instances of feeling like a target for some person who was trying to sell me their faith,” Collins said.
Collins converted in part thanks to C.S. Lewis’ classic book Mere Christianity, which lays out a rational case for God’s existence.
Collins said one thing that caught his attention in the opening chapters of the book is Lewis’ examination of the basis of morality— in other words, why is there such a thing as good and evil, and why does it matter?
“This is where I think the most strict atheists find themselves in a real quandary,” Collins argued.
“Because if they try to argue that our ideas about good and evil are solely driven by evolutionary pressures that have helped us survive, the ultimate consequence of that are that those are fictional concepts— that we’ve all been hoodwinked into imagining that there is such a thing as good and evil, and that we should stop paying attention to that and do whatever we please. And even the most ardent atheist has trouble with that conclusion.”
“Understanding God’s works in nature”
Today, Collins is outspoken about his Christian faith. He wrote a book in 2006 entitled “The Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief,” in which he describes how religious faith can motivate and inspire rigorous scientific research.
He and his wife in 2007 founded the non-profit BioLogos Foundation, which aims to foster discussion about harmony between science and biblical faith through articles, podcasts, and other media.
Collins is also a member of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, having been appointed by Pope Benedict XVI in 2009.
Though Collins said he has only been able to attend one meeting of the Academy at the Vatican since his appointment, he described the meeting as “a fascinating gathering of really world-class scientists of multiple different disciplines.”
“I’ve found such joy in the ability to bring together the spiritual and the scientific perspectives that I feel this urge to share,” he said.
“Not to turn it into too dry an intellectual, philosophical discourse, but to talk about the joy that I have experienced and by God’s grace, in being able to read God’s word in the Bible and understand God’s works in nature.”
Faith and bioethics
Amid the global race to develop a vaccine for COVID-19, some pro-life advocates and ethicists have expressed concern that in some cases, scientists may use human fetal tissue derived from aborted babies in their research.
One proposed line of research, led by immunologist Kim Hasenkrug at the NIH Rocky Mountain Laboratories in Montana, aimed to find treatments for COVID-19 by implanting mice with fetal lung tissue, infecting the mice with coronavirus strains similar to COVID-19, and testing for successful treatments.
The Department of Health and Human Services, NIH’s parent agency, last year imposed a moratorium on NIH fetal tissue research derived from elective abortions, meaning Hasenkrug’s research will not go forward barring any changes in NIH guideleines.
The new guidelines, which NIH released in July 2019, halt new NIH research with aborted fetal tissue and limited funding of “extramural” research— or tests conducted outside the NIH— on aborted fetal tissue. Grant applicants to the NIH must indicate why their research goals “cannot be accomplished using an alternative to HFT” and what methods they have used to determine that no alternatives can be used.
For his part, Collins says he considers the question of whether it is ethical to use human embryos and aborted fetuses for research is an “important issue to think through carefully.”
“I would be the first to say we should not be creating or destroying embryos— human embryos— for research, and we should not be terminating pregnancies for research,” Collins told CNA.
Collins differs from Catholic teaching on research involving frozen embryos.
“But if there are embryos that are left over after in vitro fertilization— and the hundreds of thousands that are never going to be used for anything, they’ll be discarded— I think it is ethical to consider ways in which research might make it possible to utilize that information to help somebody.”
“And likewise, if there are hundreds of thousands of fetuses that are otherwise being discarded through what is a legal process in this country, we ought to think about whether it is more ethical to throw them away, or in some rare instance to use them for research that might be life saving.”
The 2008 Vatican document Dignitatis personae states that “the obtaining of stem cells from a living human embryo…invariably causes the death of the embryo and is consequently gravely illicit.”
That document also strongly criticized aborted fetal tissue research, but regarding common vaccines—such as those for chicken pox and measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR)—that are derived from cell lines of aborted babies, the Vatican said they could be used by parents for “grave reasons” such as danger to their children’s health.
The document goes on to state that “everyone has the duty to make known their disagreement and to ask that their healthcare system make other types of vaccines available.”
A committee of four Catholic bishops wrote a letter to the Trump administration in April asking them to “help to ensure that Americans will have access to vaccines that are free from any connection to abortion.”
Collins says he has found it fascinating to observe how much the modern field of bioethics rests on a Judeo-Christian foundation.
“The fact that we do value such things as benevolence, non-maleficence— that is, don’t hurt somebody on purpose— as autonomy, as equity, as justice; all of those principles come directly out of the bible,” Collins said.
“And so, a secular ethicist who adheres to those— and they will— may not have quite the same sense that I do about the foundation on which they rest, which for me is very much God-given.”
Sharing faith in the lab
Collins says when President Obama first nominated him as NIH director, there were some voices in the media— particularly, outspoken atheists— who objected to the idea of a Christian leading the nation’s biomedical research effort.
Although Collins said he certainly believes anyone working in the sciences wishing to share their faith with others ought to feel free to do so, he acknowledged that it was much easier for him to share his faith openly after he had already achieved the rank of full professor and led high-profile research projects.
He said even in a setting like the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, held at the Vatican, he sensed that some of his fellow scientists were reluctant to speak openly about their religious beliefs— perhaps because they so often felt they could not share their religious beliefs in the labs where they normally worked.
“I do think, particularly for trainees, or junior faculty, there’s a little bit more anxiety about ‘How will I be viewed’ if I talk about my belief in God. Which is really a terrible tragedy, because as I tried to argue in Language of God— these ought not to be seen as in any way conflicting,” Collins said.
Collins said if he could go back in time to talk to his 27-year-old atheist former self, he would encourage that young man to begin contemplating questions like: Why is there something instead of nothing? Is there a God, and how would you know if there were? What is love about? What is beauty about? Why are we here?
“Those are not questions where the scientific approach is going to give you much of an answer at all,” Collins said, adding that he would tell his past self: “Let’s think about whether it’s worth, before you die, giving a few minutes contemplation to that, and seeing if there’s any other direction from which answers might come, other than the science lab.”
Collins will accept the Templeton Prize in a virtual ceremony later this year.
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I’m not sure what the fuss is.
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Many, many years back, the HEK 293 cell line (among others, see Children of God for LIfe website) came into existence and is currently used in a wide variety of pharmaceutical applications including vaccine production, notably the Covid vaccine, the use of which our very own Pope assures us is an “act of love.”
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https://www.axios.com/2021/08/18/pope-francis-video-ad-encourage-covid-vaccines
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Indeed, vaccines that were produced and or tested with fetal cells lines are often required for entrance into Catholic schools around the country, and I expect Catholic colleges and seminaries. Bishops around the globe (and in the Vatican) order priests, deacons, and employees to be vaccinated against certain diseases (notably Covid) with these vaccines.
Theologians (professional and armchair) assure us again and again and again that being vaccinated with any of these vaccines is acceptable (just be sure to protest!)
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So I am not entirely sure what the fuss is about IVF. In twenty or so years, I am quite confident that Theologians will assure everyone that whatever medical therapeutics invented with the destroyed left-over embryos (aka human beings) at IVF clinics is morally fine (just be sure to protest).
Along the same lines, anyone who is conceived through rape, or who has an ancestor conceived through rape, should be denied entrance to Catholic schools, right? Wait, that’s not enough — better make that anyone ever tainted with Original Sin. Sure, that leaves exactly two people eligible for the schools, Neither of Whom could possibly be educated by the tainted faculty, but I’m sure that is more than made up for by the absolute refusal to cooperate with evil.
Or we could take a page from the Apostle Paul instead. Obviously no one, and especially no Christian, should offer food to idols, nor should they encourage others to do so, but it was still permissable to buy such food in the market at a reduced price. We must not participate in evil ourselves, nor may we encourage others to participate in evil now or in the future, but evil so thoroughly permeates history that if we pretend we can avoid everything touched by it we are being dishonest hypocrites … which means we are participating in evil.
This isn’t just about the HEK 293 cell line. It’s also about slavery and the mistreatment of the American Indians. It’s about barons of industry oppressing their workers to create the modern world. It’s about pogroms and persecutions and purges. It’s about kings and presidents fighting wars and reshaping the map for money or prestige. Everyone you meet, every place you go, every tool you use is to some extent shaped by a sinful choice in the past.
Outis: Could you more clearly explain what your point is? Even though there was evil in the past, can we not oppose IVF now?
Who exactly is “pretending that we can avoid everything touched by “evil?
What does “slavery and mistreatment of American Indians” have to do with this article on IVF?
Please explain.
(I believe) He’s assimilating other “gains” made by society to their related pain to others and/or related sins – pretty much “nothing” is exempt/pure yet we have no problem with it in our daily lives? Do we subscribe to a cable network that also offers porn, so we can watch our news and TV shows?
One example may be, you do business with Amazon because it saves you money, is quick etc… yet they were one of the first to jump on the abortion travel to other states is reimbursed by their health plan bandwagon. They also have the postal service delivering non-emergency packages on Sundays (non optional for some employees – see recent court case) Based on just their revenues, how much real pushback is there on this company or any other in the U.S? If you mentioned this to someone on the street they would just shrug their shoulders, most likely, even if they raised their eyebrows when informed of any injustices. Is our own church even perfect?
I think his point is, it’s impossible to sort out/discard everything in our lives, past or present, that’s not pure – and just put ourselves in a pristine utopian situation. The fact that we kicked the Natives off their land/conquered or whatever you would like to deem it is an example. We still pay tribes billions in grants every year, but the fact of the historical related land matter still remains. We go about our lives every day with nary a thought to what took place in this matter; except maybe to remove the word “Chief” from the name of a sports team, as if that absolves us in present day (and is often being construed as an insult by the Tribes).
Will the Church baptize a baby from the surviving embryo? I imagine/hope the answer is yes, but I don’t know if this has been documented. I naively hope a soul is not yet attached to these embryos that are frozen or discarded, but Ceasar has said this is no different than using the morning after pill.
I consider that what is going on at Fordham University will eventually ruin what had been an unrivaled Law Department/Faculty and the unrivaled form of jurisprudence they had honed there. This should not be allowed to materialize; however, presently the other Departments are all caving to peculiar notions taught as normality. And that is done for the sake of having a peculiar enrollment and avoiding embarrassment, when in reality it is all abnormal. In which respect – Utter Fantasy.
In December 1983, the first babies were born using the IVF method. They happened to be twins. 41 years have passed and I don’t recall a mention of IVF until the Alabama ruling. As a result, state IVF clinics have shut down. Again, “conservative” courts have caused mayhem. The GOP is further conflicted as they try to repair internal damage that has been caused by duplicit Trump’s illegal dictations. Technology too sinful?
I am pro-life, ALL life. When I am conflicted by a topic that defies dogma, apparently today, I ask God for help. I am awaiting his answer.
I continue to ask WHY would an all loving, all omniscient God create an infertile couple? “Go forth and multiply”.
May he forgive me.
Consider Abraham’s aged and childless wife Sarah. She laughed when told by God or His angel that she would conceive by the following year.
Consider John the Baptist’s mother, Elizabeth, and how astonished she was to be pregnant after the Angel Gabriel appeared to her unbelieving husband, announcing her pregnancy, despite her old age.
How do these modern, supposedly infertile, couples know for certain that they are infertile? How do they know that God does not have a plan for them, as He did for Sarah and Elizabeth? They don’t know.
How do they know God does not have some other plan, in which celibacy would be required or preferred? They don’t know.
They need to ask God for supernatural faith, and not gravely offend Him by pursuing IVF.
I hope this helps answer your question. His ways are not our ways. And His thoughts are not our thoughts.
Genesis 18: 12-15
“…Can any task be too difficult for the Lord? At this time of year, the time I have appointed, I will come back to thee; live she till then, Sara shall have a son…
“…And when Sara, overcome with terror, denied the charge of laughing, Ah, he said, but thou didst laugh.”
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Luke 1: 5-25
“…And Zachary said to the angel, By what sign am I to be assured of this? I am an old man now, and my wife is far advanced in age …”
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Isaiah 55: 8-9
“…Not mine, the Lord says, to think as you think, deal as you deal.
“by the full height of heaven above earth, my dealings are higher than your dealings, my thoughts than your thoughts.”
— taken from Knox translation
God gives us freedom to love or not, do good or evil. I am not a scientist but I have heard that infertility is the result of human choices that pollute our environment, including the womb environment. When mothers or grandmothers take the pill, it influences the fertility of their offspring. God did not make the person infertile, pollution might have.Humans choose to pollute.
Republican politicians typically oppose abortion, but now appear to support IVF. Philosophically, these two positions would appear to be contradictory, but expect some interesting moral and intellectual gymnastics to justify this seemingly mutually exclusive position.
Perhaps that great moral philosopher and intellectual Marjorie Taylor Greene can enlighten us?
It would be naive to think any politician regardless of party affiliation would be able to align their platform with every Catholic moral principle. Informed voters should investigate the platform of each candidate and make a conscientious decision to vote for a person who most aligns with Catholic moral teaching. On the whole, the scale has always tipped toward the Republican candidates. It just has.
“Father Ezra Sullivan, OP, a professor of moral theology and psychology at the University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome, told Robertson that the Church is ‘outspoken’ against the mass “production of children” through IVF.
I must understand a vastly different meaning of the word “outspoken.” I have never heard the Phrase IVF spoken at my home parish, or other parishes where I occasionally attend Mass. While we already have 10 states with legal Physician Assisted Suicide (PAS-Euthanasia), I have read that a number of additional states will have it on the ballot this November. I have not heard that word mentioned either. Also haven’t heard homosexuality, cohabitation, etc. mentioned. The Church being outspoken seems to mean today that a bishop who is head of a USCCB committee issues a statement on an issue – a statement which is not read by 99 out of a 100 Mass going Catholics.
If these moral issues are not addressed at the parish level, then the Church is not really being outspoken. But, thanks anyway to CWR for addressing them.
Embryo. An unborn or unhatched offspring in the process of development, in particular a human offspring during the period from approximately the second to the eighth week after fertilization [after which it is usually termed a fetus] (Oxford Dictionary).
Inhumane treatment is relative to an ‘offspring in process of development’. Human life begins at the moment of conception as insightfully taught by the Church. Life created in God’s own image, which is why the entire process from human intent in the conjugal act, until old age and death is a sacred process. Why motivation for sexual relations and the entire process of developing a relationship must be within the realization of this sacred end. Purity and impurity. Man and woman in sincere and lasting love for eachother exclusively in an act of mutual love open to life.
Any deviation violates the sacred process and offends the creator of life. A sin of impurity directly violates the author of life, who is true life, life to be experienced by the believing faithful in its fullness.
The reverence or lack given to this initial process of bringing life into the world affects most profoundly the entire spectrum of our relationship to others and to the dynamics related to world and nature. The balance of that relation is either excessive or negligent when the life process is itself devalued and abjured. That is why we currently perceive an imbalance in Church priority referring to abortion and the environment, to sexual sanctity and love of creation.
Dear Father. I appreciate your wisdom. But, with all due respect, being IVF “celibate”, I believe you speak from afar on conjugal relations. I am a nitpicker on dogmatic conclusions, especially with scientific offerings to relieve human suffering. Thoughts, infertile couples that seem forgotten….
God created man/women to his image and likeness.
God said “go forth and multiply and fill the earth”.
Our Lord Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these”.
I am pro-life, ALL life. The IVF scientific process must improve. Embryos must not be discarded.
God bless.
Pope Francis recently said on X that loving neighbour and loving God are a single love.
The Commandments (of Moses) put limits, eg., eye for an eye means you can not kill for an eye. Jesus put further limits, in the Beatitudes, in some statements eg. about millstones and in the sins against the Spirit.
Like the situation with abortion, we are not to be co-opted into cryogenic infanticide by “becoming baptizers because the problem can’t be beaten”. Very serious. Abomination.
It seems that either the X statement is wrong or it fails to clarify faith teaching as it should -fully.
In fact “limit” is -and will be- an essential feature in the eschatological determination. Mercy is meant to begin justice; justice invites mercy.