Can Catholics Be Organ Donors?

The shocking episode of a man whose organs were about to be harvested, but who showed signs of life while on the operating table, has brought the terrifying truth about organ donation to the public consciousness. The event, which occurred in 2021, has recently become widely known due to congressional testimony. Some of the health professionals in that operating room quit; others needed therapy due to the emotional trauma they suffered.

The reality is that “brain death” is not death, and is generally an excuse to harvest organs from living people, whose vitals will immediately become useless for donation purposes when actual death occurs. Catholic medical ethicists and physicians have been warning about this for years (e.g., Dr. Paul Byrne).

Please do not check off one of those “organ donor” boxes on a driver’s license. If you do so, you could have your organs harvested while you’re still alive. Why Daniel Payne’s CNA article on the subject did not give that vital piece of advise is beyond me, but it is advice you should take seriously.

Below is an AI-produced summary of Payne’s article, which has a lot of good information in it. ¹

But first, I would like to address some of what is said toward the end of the article about the resurrection of the body. It is de fide that we will be resurrected in eodem corpore — in the same body that we have here in this life. What makes this body unique to me has not been defined. The proverbial if unpleasant case of the missionary eaten by the cannibal — whose arm is it in the resurrection? — illustrates the state of the question. If Saint Thomas Aquinas is right that the principle of individuation is material, then we might suggest, in light of actual scientific discovery, that the DNA unique to each individual is a significant part (if not the totality) of makes my body mine and yours yours. Certainly, this genetic “stamp” differs from individual to individual, and it marks the physiological uniqueness of a human person from cradle to grave, even amid the significant accidental changes that take place as we grow and age. (If Duns Scotus is right about what constitutes the principle of individuation — haecceitas — then DNA might still possibly be a factor.)

---

• Incident Highlight: A 2021 incident in Kentucky where a man declared brain dead was found alive during organ harvesting underscores the importance of ensuring ethical practices in organ donation, leading to medical staff resignations and therapy needs.
• Catholic Church’s Stance: The Church supports organ donation as morally praiseworthy, provided it respects Catholic moral teachings and the donor is genuinely deceased. This aligns with the teachings of Pope Francis and previous popes, recognizing it as an act of love and fraternity.
• Organ Donation Types: Donation can involve paired organs, like kidneys, or vital organs, which require certainty of the donor’s death before extraction. [Note, as I have been assured, most vitals are useless after death, so it is not likely that this is ever going to happen.]
• Brain Death Debate: The classification of brain death is controversial. Recent guidelines from a neurological society faced criticism from Catholic ethicists, fearing premature declarations of death could occur.
• U.S. Bishops & NCBC’s Concerns: The USCCB and NCBC criticized proposals to redefine brain death standards, arguing it broadens criteria for organ harvesting and could deter potential donors.
• Resurrection and Organ Donation: Theological implications of bodily resurrection are considered, emphasizing continuity of personal identity despite physical changes, suggesting organ donation aligns with the belief in bodily resurrection.
• Respect for Human Body: Despite the organ donation, the body should be treated with respect, reflecting the Church’s teachings on human dignity and bodily resurrection.

---