This post was inspired by the reading for the Mass on February 18, Jas 1:12-18 [1]. The passage quoted below is from BibleGateway, Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition (DRA) [2]:
12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation; for when he hath been proved, he shall receive a crown of life, which God hath promised to them that love him.
13 Let no man, when he is tempted, say that he is tempted by God. For God is not a tempter of evils, and he tempteth no man.
14 But every man is tempted by his own concupiscence, being drawn away and allured.
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15 Then when concupiscence hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin. But sin, when it is completed, begetteth death.
16 Do not err, therefore, my dearest brethren.
17 Every best gift, and every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no change, nor shadow of alteration.
18 For of his own will hath he begotten us by the word of truth, that we might be some beginning of his creatures.
Even though the passage addresses "concupiscence" defined as "sexual desire; lust" and as "ardent, usually sensuous, longing" [3], line 17 quoted above was read broader than in the sexual sense to include genetically modified organisms.
"A genetically modified organism (GMO) is any organism whose genetic material has been altered using genetic engineering techniques. The exact definition of a genetically modified organism and what constitutes genetic engineering varies, with the most common being an organism altered in a way that "does not occur naturally by mating and/or natural recombination". A wide variety of organisms have been genetically modified (GM), from animals to plants and microorganisms." [4]
A genetically modified organism is not a "perfect gift", not "from above" and not "coming down from the Father of lights ... where there is no change, nor shadow of alteration."
Is it possible that the agricultural scientists and geneticists who altered what occurs naturally, including the officers who run the corporations that fund them, and the farmers who plant GMO seeds, had committed a sin by having been tempted by their greed for profit? Without repentance, would these words from line 15 quoted above apply to them, including those around the world who approve of their use: "...sin, when it is completed, begetteth death"?
Quoted below is from healthline [5]:
...one of the most common GMO crops is Bt corn, which is genetically modified to produce the insecticide Bt toxin. By making this toxin, the corn is able to resist pests, reducing the need for pesticides.
GMO crops are incredibly common in the United States, with at least 90% of soy, cotton, and corn being grown through genetic techniques.
In fact, it’s estimated that up to 80% of foods in supermarkets contain ingredients that come from genetically modified crops.
While GMO crops make farming much easier, there is some concern around their potential effect on the environment and their safety for human consumption — specifically surrounding illnesses and allergies.
However, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and USDA maintain that GMOs are safe for human and animal consumption.
Regardless of the degree of safety of GMO foods, "there is some concern around their long-term safety and environmental impact." [6]
It does not matter what one believes to be true. This question needs an answer: can anything made by God, "coming down from the Father of lights," be improved upon and perfected by humans?
[1] The Epistle for the Commemoration of Saint Simeon is on page 936 of the Roman Catholic Daily Missal, 1962 Angelus Press.
[6]
Ibid, quoted without reference.
