Immediate Release
California Religious Leaders support Prop 37— Labeling of
Genetically Modified Foods
Christian, Jewish, and Hindu faith
leaders are urging their congregations to vote for Proposition 37, which would
require labeling of genetically modified foods sold in California. Several
clergy appear in videotaped interviews www.faithandgmos.com. There are many reasons why religious
leaders support labeling.
Widespread religious enthusiasm for Prop 37 has been expected. Not only do 91% of
Americans want GMOs labeled, religious bodies around the world have long
supported mandatory labeling, which is already enjoyed by the people of about
50 countries. Some religious bodies go further. The current policy on genetics
of the World Council of Churches, for example, calls on people to “Build
partnerships with civil society, peoples’ movements, farmers and indigenous
peoples to oppose genetic engineering in agriculture.”
Christian Faith Leaders
The United Methodist Church, the
Presbyterian Church USA, and a study committee of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church have all called for genetically engineered foods to be
labeled. The California Council of Churches is an endorser to Prop
37. And the World Council of Churches, an ecumenical body made up of
more than 300 denominations from around the world, warned that the failure to
label is a special kind of lying. They write: “…the refusal to allow the
labeling of GMOs is itself a hiding of the truth, but also makes it impossible
to ensure the integrity of the trade in food.” In their 2006 statement on
Caring For Life, the Council urged its members to fight for labeling for the
health and well-being of this and future generations.
Rev. Lyndon Harris,
the Los Angeles based Episcopal Priest who was in charge of St. Paul’s Chapel
across the street from the World Trade Center, points out that “the Global
Anglican Communion has come out against Genetically Modified Organisms.” The General
Convention of the Episcopal Church “support(s) the rights of consumers to
know the source and content of their food stuffs,” and Rev. Harris agrees. “We
have a right to know. I am encouraging all involved to work to have GMOs
labeled—Proposition 37 in the state of California.”
Rev. Harris, who ran a rescue
operation after the World Trade Center attack, also has several concerns “about
the proliferation about GMOs in our food supply.” He says, “If the
science, as it indicates, is true, there are serious risks for consuming
genetically modified organisms.” Rev. Harris avoids buying GMOs and shares his
concerns with others, “especially people who are having illness and disease.”
He is concerned about the mixing of
genes between plants and animals, and about the lack of safety studies
conducted on GMOs before they are placed into our diet. “It’s one thing to
experiment,” he says, but “quite another thing to introduce genetically
modified organisms GMOs into the food supply without giving due lab testing.”
Rev. Dr. Dudley D. Chapman, pastor
of the Greater Community Missionary Baptist church in Pacoima, California,
doesn’t think it’s fair to give people food without disclosing what’s in it. He
says, “I would vote for putting a GMO label on the can, the bottle, on whatever
you are eating so you have a choice.” From a religious perspective, he says,
“We definitely and positively want truth. And to be untrue to me, and not
telling me what I’m eating, is definitely a sin.” Beyond labeling, Rev.
Chapman, like many other Christian leaders, opposes the practice of genetically
engineering our food from a religious perspective. “It’s abominable,” he says.
“I like the way God made the stuff in the first place. It’s just
right. … Everything is so well organized and so well fixed, that hey, why
fix what’s already working.” To his congregation, he says, “if there’s any way
possible, you should get there to vote to make sure food is labeled when they
have GMO ingredients in it. I will vote YES on Prop 37."
Reverend Peter H. Rood of the Holy
Nativity Episcopal Church in Westchester, CA, says,
“We have to be informed…. I intend to vote yes on Prop 37.” He invites those in
his religious community to do the same. Rev. Rood is also concerned about the
lack of awareness about GMOs in general, and is predisposed against the use of
genetically engineered foods as a whole. “It takes my breath away when I think
about how many folks in my congregation have no idea.” He adds, “It means as a
pastor, I’m just going to have to educate all the more to raise consciousness
and have folks be active in taking responsibility to stand against this
practice.”
Jewish Faith Leaders
Rabbi Elihu Gevirtz
says that when tomatoes, corn and other fruits and vegetables are produced with
genes from pork or shellfish or scorpions, which are not kosher, he needs the
foods labeled as GMO in order to avoid them. “If you can’t trust the food that
you eat, how can you take care of your children? Labeling food as GMO
enables us to make a conscious choice about the content of our
food.” He also says, “The Torah tells us clearly not to put
different species together. GMOs are dangerous spiritually. They are a
symptom of a spiritual crisis for humanity in which we have overstepped our
boundaries. It is not humanity's role to create new species; it is God's.”
Hindu Faith Leaders
Swami Ishwarananda, from Chinmaya
Mission in Los Angeles, believes that genetic engineering
interferes with the natural food that is made by God. As such, “It’s not good
for the body.” The Swami says the ancient Vedic practice of Ayurvedic medicine
“starts with the right kind of food.” But with genetic engineering, “when
certain such modifications in the very structure of the food is done, we have
no clue about whether it is the right thing to eat at all or not.” He considers
GMOs to be dangerous to health and advises his congregation, “Please do not
consume them.” For that,” he says, “labeling is a must. We should support
that proposition[37].”
Thank you,
Institute for Responsible
Technology Food Policy Fund
The Institute for Responsible
Technology Food Policy Fund is a 501(c)(4) non-profit organization engaging in
advocacy and legislative lobbying activities.
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